Bioaccumulation and potential impacts of persistent organic pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern in guitarfishes and angelsharks from Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and contaminants of emerging concern in endangered angelshark and guitarfish species from southeastern Brazil, and to investigate potential impacts of these compounds on morphometric indexes. Pesticides of emerging concern, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in hepatic and muscular tissues of Pseudobatos horkelii, P. percellens, Squatina guggenheim, and Zapteryx brevirostris obtained from artisanal and industrial fisheries operating in southeastern Brazil. Accumulation profiles and effects of contaminants on condition factor and hepatosomatic index were investigated. No differences were detected regarding species contaminant concentration, potentially due to similarities in habits, occurrence and trophic position shared by guitarfishes and angelsharks. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (23.2–495.3 ng g −1), and PPCPs such as diclofenac (<LOQ – 448.4 ng g−1) and methylparaben (<LOQ – 645.5 ng g−1) presented the highest concentrations, regardless of the species. Effects of elasmobranch size were not significant on contaminant levels, indicating the lack of bioaccumulation over time. We suggest that the exposure to contaminants in elasmobranchs inhabiting this region is highly dependent on the economic activities and high urban development in southeastern Brazil. Regarding potential impacts of such exposure, the condition factor was only negatively influenced by PBDEs concentrations, whereas the hepatosomatic index was not influenced by any contaminant. Despite this, our results indicate that guitarfishes and angelsharks are exposed to POPs and contaminants of emerging concern potentially toxic to aquatic organisms. In this context, more refined biomarkers should be used to predict potential impacts of these contaminants on elasmobranch's health.