Investigation on Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and Bio-accumulation factor (BAF) of aromatic compounds in the Ark Clam

To evaluate the ecological risk of pollutants, computing of bioaccumulation factor (BAF), bioconcentration factor (BCF) and biomagnification are to be studied. Since clams are considered as good biomonitors for various types of pollutants, they might be good suitable subjects for bioaccumulation and bioconcentration studies. The Persian Gulf particularly the coasts of Bushehr province are constantly exposed to some pollutants such as PAHs due the presence of oil platforms and terminals, high traffic of tankers and ships, and discharge of urban and industrial effluents. PAHs compounds have destructive effects on many organisms. The present study was carried out in order to investigate the pattern of uptake, accumulation and concentration of PAHs in Ark clam in the coastal area of Bushehr city. The samples of clam, sediment and seawater were collected from five different stations in the Bushehr shoreline. After digestion and extraction by organic solvents, the concentration of PAHs in the samples was measured by HPLC (KANUER). Generally the concentration of PAHs in seawater, sediment and Ark clam were 17.14µgl-1, 2866.52ngg-1 and 412.72ngg-1 respectively. The mean of PAHs BCF and BAF in studied clam were 26.31 and 0.14 respectively. Results showed that 3ring PAHs were major in seawater and clam, while in sediment 5 and 6 PAHs was the main. For 3ring compounds bioaccumulation (BAF) factors in clams were more than those of 4ring compounds. Similarly these compounds were more than 5 and 6ring compounds. The calculated bioconcentration (BCF) factor for 4ring compounds was higher than 3ring compounds. A significant correlation was found between log kow and BAF in Ark clam (P