The effect of Petroleum Hydrocarbons on the physiology of the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

Benzene and dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) are by-products of refinery operations, an industry widespread in coastal regions of the state and likely to increase in importance if offshore drilling commences. DMN is a major component of #2 fuel oil. Benzene is widely used as an industrial solvent for paints, resins, dyes and pesticides. Both are commonly found in municipal runoff. Thus these chemicals are present in the environment as industrial by-products and may have varying and important effects on the health of individuals and populations of C. sapjdus. The biological processes examined are basic to the adaptive physiology of C. sapidus, and thus our methods could be used to test effects of other toxic substances on this animal. In addition, these methods could provide a means of assessing the effect of toxicants on other commercially and ecologically important species such as Homarus americanus, Palaeomonetes pugi~ and Crangon septemspinosa, even though the precise responses may differ from those seen in C. sapidus