PAH body burden and biomarker responses in mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to produced water from a North Sea oil field: Laboratory and field assessments

► PAH body burden was useful to identify mussels exposed to produced water. ► Lab: micronuclei test and lysosomal membrane stability had a dose-response pattern. ► Field: biomarker data were consistent with contamination level (mussel body burden). ► Biomarkers were sensitive tools for identifying a Produced Water discharge gradient. ► A 2-tier approach is suggested for future offshore biomonitoring programs.