Level of contamination in sediments affected by the Prestige oil spill and impact on the embryo development of the sea urchin

 The level of contamination in sediments from several sites on the coast of Galicia (Spain) diversely affected by the Prestige oil spill was evaluated 18 months after the accident. Data of metal and total hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments were integrated with data on the toxicity of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Fernández, N, Cesar, A, González, M, Del-Valls, TA
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2006
Country:México
Institution:UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA
Repository:Ciencias Marinas
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:cienciasmarinas.com.mx:article/1085
Online Access:https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1085
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Fuel-oil
sedimento
bioensayo
erizo de mar
ecotoxicología
fuel oil
sediment
bioassay
sea urchin
ecotoxicology
Description
Summary: The level of contamination in sediments from several sites on the coast of Galicia (Spain) diversely affected by the Prestige oil spill was evaluated 18 months after the accident. Data of metal and total hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments were integrated with data on the toxicity of these sediments on sea urchin embryos, obtained through bioassays using an aqueous sediment extract (elutriate) containing the soluble phase of fuel. The results of the chemical analyses show that significantly high levels of hydrocarbons and metals accumulate at some localities. Moreover, in some of these cases, they can enter the water column and become available to planktonic organisms, as shown by the results of the bioassays using the larval phases of a local species of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus).