Chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in corals and water-SPM-sediment system in the Persian Gulf, Iran: A potential global threat for coral reefs. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ranjbar Jafarabadi, Ali; Dashtbozorg, Mehdi; Raudonytė-Svirbutavičienė, Eva; Riyahi Bakhtiari, Alireza
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 275(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Chlorinated paraffins -- Water-SPM-sediment system -- Bioaccumulation -- Congener pattern -- Coral reef ecosystem -- Persian Gulf; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Swift degradation of the coral reef ecosystems urges the need to identify the reef decline drivers. Due to their widespread use, bioaccumulative and toxic characteristics, chlorinated organic compounds, such as chlorinated paraffins (CPs), are regarded as specific pollutants of concern. Yet little is known about the occurrence of CPs in the coral reef ecosystems. This study focuses on the short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs). Their distribution and congener pattern were investigated in the water-SPM-sediment system and in the corals of the Larak coral reef for the first time. Chlorinated paraffins were detected in all the coral species. Their total loadings ranged from 42.1 to 178 ng g −1 dw in coral tissue, from 6.0 to 144 ng g −1 dw in the skeleton, and from 55.0 to 240 ng g −1 dw in zooxanthellae. Soft corals were found to accumulate more CPs than Scleractinian corals. Zooxanthellae and mucus accumulated more CPs than tissue and skeleton. In most cases, congener group patterns were dominated by C13 (for SCCPs) and C17 (MCCPs) groups, respectively. The congener patterns of CPs altered to some extent between mucus and the remaining coral compartments. High loadings of CPs were detected in the skeleton of the bleached corals. Moreover, a significant negative correlation between the levels of CPs and the symbiodinium density was observed. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Chlorinated paraffins in corals and the water-SPM-sediment system reported in the Persian Gulf, Iran, for the first time. Suspension feeding on SPM might be the main medium-chain CP source for corals. Short-chain CPs are more effectively released with mucus than medium-chain CPs. Bleached corals contained higher CPs concentrations.