Application of the mussel watch concept in studies of hydrocarbons, PCBs and DDT in the Brazilian Bay of Todos os Santos (Bahia)

Abstract

Data on aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs, and DDT in different species of edible bivalves collected along the Todos os Santos Bay (Bahia, Brazil)are reported for the first time for the SW Atlantic coast. The species and collection sites were selected for the identification of suitable regional sentinels and the assessment of different coastal pollutant sources. Anomalocardia brasiliana, the dominant and most frequent bivalve of the Brazilian coast, can be an adequate bioindicator because it accumulates organic pollutants with reasonable sensitivity.