Selection of bioindicators of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in mollusks in the Chinese Bohai Sea

Mollusks, including bivalve and gastropod samples, were collected in the summer of 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the spatial patterns of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the coastal water of the Chinese Bohai Sea. Seven species of mollusks, including Rapana venosa (Rap), Neverita didyma (Nev), Scapharca subcrenata (Sca), Mytilus edulis (Blue mussel, Myt), Amusium (Amu), Meretix meretrix (Mer), and Crassostrea talienwhanensis (Oyster, Ost) were investigated to select appropriate bioindicators. Compared with other species, Ost and Myt possess higher lipid contents and have higher concentrations of OCPs and PBDEs. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the most influential factor on the contaminant concentrations in mollusks is the trophic level (TL), followed by the lipid contents. Concentrations of OCPs, PCBs, and PBDEs correlated negatively with the TL of the selected mollusks. Results of principal component and correlation analyses suggest that Ost and Myt can be used as potential bioindicators of pollution by OCPs, PCBs,and PBDEs of the Chinese Bohai Sea.