Toxicity of Refugio Beach Oil to Sand Crabs (Emerita analoga), Blue Mussels (Mytilus sp.), and Inland Silversides (Menidia beryllina)

Monterey formation crude oil spilled from an onshore pipeline and entered the surf zone near Refugio State Beach, Santa Barbara County, California (USA) on 19 May 2015. During this season, early life stages of many marine fish and invertebrates were present. Surf zone water and beach porewater samples were collected during the 4 mo after the spill and 2 yr later for chemical analyses. Elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations were observed in surf zone water and porewater near the release point, declining with distance and time. Early life stage toxicity was investigated by conducting 6- and 7-d static renewal bioassays with sand crab (Emerita analoga) post larvae (megalopae) and inland silverside larvae (Menidia beryllina), respectively, and a 48-h blue mussel (Mytilus sp.) embryo development bioassay. Dilutions of a high-energy water accommodated fraction of the Refugio Beach oil and a seawater control were prepared to simulate surf zone PAH concentrations (nominal PAH(45); 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 mu g/L). The PAH(45) median lethal concentrations (LC50s), based on measured concentrations, were 381 mu g/L for Mytilus sp., 75.6 mu g/L for Menidia, and 40.9 mu g/L for Emerita. Our results suggest that PAH concentrations in coastal waters of the spill-affected area were potentially lethal to early life stages of fish and invertebrates. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;00:1-9. (c) 2021 SETAC

Automated summary

On May 19, 2015, a spill of Monterey formation crude oil occurred near Refugio State Beach, Santa Barbara County, California, potentially threatening the early life stages of marine fish and invertebrates.