Is Fucus a Suitable Biomonitoring Organism for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination? A Study from the Faroe Islands

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate seaweed as a novel biomonitoring organism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in the Faroe Islands. Fucus samples were collected from two cities and two towns. 19 PAHs, including the EPA 16, and four groups of alkylated PAHs, were quantified using GC-MS analysis. PAHs were extracted using a modified QuEchERS method with ultrasonication in acetonitrile, back-extraction into hexane and Florisil® cleanup. Fucus from the harbor of Tórshavn sampled at high tide had the highest PAH concentrations (1.3∙102 to 1.7∙102 ng/g wet weight), with the highest ∑PAH concentrations and abundance of individual PAHs found in Tórshavn, followed by Runavík and Toftir. All samples contained higher concentrations of alkylated PAHs compared to the non-alkylated compounds. The study found that Fucus may be promising as a biomonitoring organism for PAH pollution; however, major differences among samples collected in close proximity and on different days were observed, suggesting that water exchange and tide levels have a strong influence on pollutant uptake in Fucus. Therefore, further evaluation of sampling strategy is necessary. Overall, this study provides important insights into the use of Fucus as a biomonitoring organism for PAH pollution.