Evaluation of Osilinus attratus as a bioindicator organism to monitor oil pollution in the Canary Islands.

Concentrations of n-alkanes and PAHs in the visceral mass of the marine winkle Osilinus attratus taken from three locations on the southeast coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) over a two-year period, were evaluated at monthly intervals in order to assess if this small marine winkle may be used as bioindicador organism. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied in order to determine if it was possible to relate sampling areas to potential sources of petroleum contamination.