XENOBIOTIC COMPOUNDS IN BLUE CRABS FROM A HIGHLY CONTAMINATED URBAN SUBESTUARY

Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), collected from the industrialized Elizabeth River, Virginia, contained residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides. The Elizabeth River possesses PAH sediment loadings that are among the highest ever reported. Despite these loadings, commercial fishing for blue crabs continues in this river. Muscle and hepatopancreas from the crabs were analyzed for the xenobiotic compounds. Analytical procedures involved dichloromethane extraction of lyophilized tissue, followed by molecular size and polarity-based purification of the extract. Capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization and electrolytic conductivity detection was used for quantitation and tentative identification of the xenobiotic compounds. Mass spectrometry was used for confirmation of these identities. Contaminant concentrations were greater in hepatopancreas than in muscle in crabs from every site examined. Hepatopancreas PAH burdens were as high as 11 mg/kg dry weight, with an accompanying muscle level of 3.1 mg/kg. The PAHs present consisted mainly of alkylated low-molecular-weight compounds (e.g., acenaphthenes and naphthalenes), except near a creosote-impacted site. At the latter location, unsubstituted, higher-molecular-weight PAHs (e.g., pyrene and chrysene) dominated. Organochlorines, which included PCBs, 4,4'-DDE, and chlordane, were found in lower concentrations.