Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

2022

Journal

Environmental Technology & Innovation

Volume

28

First Page

102567

Abstract

Conventional PAH analytical methods are time-consuming and expensive, limiting their utility in time sensitive events (i.e. oil spills and floods) or for widespread environmental monitoring. Unreliable and inefficient screening methods intended to prioritize samples for more extensive analyses exacerbate the issue. Antibody-based biosensor technology was implemented as a quantitative screening method to measure total PAH concentration in adult oysters (Crassostrea virginica) — a well-known bioindicator species with ecological and commercial significance. Individual oysters were analyzed throughout the historically polluted Elizabeth River watershed (Virginia, USA). Significant positive association was observed between biosensor and GC–MS measurements that persisted when the method was calibrated for different regulatory subsets of PAHs. Mapping of PAH concentrations in oysters throughout the watershed demonstrates the utility of this technology for environmental monitoring. Through a novel extension of equilibrium partitioning, biosensor technology shows promise as a cost-effective analysis to rapidly predict whole animal exposure to better assess human health risk as well as improve monitoring efforts.

DOI

doi: 10.1016/j.eti.2022.102567

Keywords

Biosensor, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), Equilibrium partitioning, Oil spill response, Seafood safety

Share

COinS