Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Fish Research Articles

Bioconcentration, biotransformation, and elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) exposed to contaminated seawater.

Sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) were continuously exposed to two concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) dissolved in seawater (sigma PAH = 7.57 and 72.31 microg/L) for 36 d, followed by 8 d of depuration. The PAHs studied were naphthalene (NPH or C0-NPH), phenanthrene (PHE or C0-PHE), pyrene (PYR), 2-methylnaphthalene (C1-NPH), 1,3-dimethylnaphthalene (C2-NPH), 2-isopropylnaphthalene (C3-NPH), 9-methylphenanthrene (C1-PHE), and 9-ethylphenanthrene (C2-PHE). Uptake rate constants (k1) for NPHs increased with increasing degree of alkylation and log value of the octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow), whereas k1 values for three- and four-ring PAHs were lower despite their high log Kow values. Elimination rate constants (k2) for the homologue series of NPHs and PHEs generally increased with decreasing degree of alkylation and log Kow values. However, the depuration time did not directly correlate with the molecular size for nonalkylated PAHs. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were estimated from the ratio of k1 to k2 and also directly from PAH concentrations in fish tissue and water samples, and the factors generated by the two methods were very similar. A significant positive correlation was determined between log BCFs and log Kow values for the series of C0- through C3-NPH at both low (r2 = 0.985, p = 0.0077) and high (r2 = 0.956, p = 0.022) exposures, although this correlation was not determined for all the PAHs studied. As a result of increased metabolism and/ or reduced bioavailability with increasing lipophilic character, the estimated BCFs for C0- through C2-PHE and PYR were generally lower than those for C0- through C3-NPH. The two exposure levels revealed minor variations in k1 and k2 values for parent PAHs and in the temporal pattern of PAH metabolite concentrations in bile. The present results indicate that the presence and nature of alkyl groups have a significant influence on the kinetics and metabolism of PAHs in fish.

Evaluation of fish early life-stage toxicity models of chronic embryonic exposures to complex polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can cause a variety of effects in early life-stages of fish that have been chronically exposed as embryos, including mortality, deformities, and edemas. Mechanistic models of the chronic toxicity of complex mixtures of PAHs in fish have not been reported, with the exception of a previously untested model based on the lipids of fish as the site of action and toxicity caused through a narcosis mechanism. Four mechanism-based models of the chronic toxicity of embryonic exposures to complex mixtures of petrogenic PAHs in two species of fish, Pacific herring and pink salmon, were evaluated using a toxic-units approach: narcosis, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonism, alkyl phenanthrene toxicity, and combined toxicity. Alkyl phenanthrenes were the predominant PAH constituent determining early life-stage toxicity in both herring and salmon. The alkyl phenanthrene model had 67 to 80% accuracy in predicting the absence or presence of significant early life-stage toxicity, compared with a 40 to 50% accuracy and general underprediction of toxicity with the narcosis model. PAHs with high relative AhR affinity did not appear to contribute substantially to the observed early life-stage toxicity because of low concentrations of the most potent AhR agonists. Narcosis appeared to primarily contribute to embryo mortality and to be predominantly controlled by the concentration of naphthalenes. Except for the highest PAH exposure to herring, the primary toxic unit contribution to the combined toxicity model was alkyl phenanthrene toxicity to both herring and salmon. We recommend the continued use of total PAHs as a metric of exposure until mechanistic models have been further evaluated.

DNA damage and biliary PAH metabolites in flatfish from Southern California bays and harbors, and the Channel Islands

Abstract Southern California bays and harbors have been shown to contain high concentrations of a variety of contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and pesticides. Conventional monitoring tools do not assess exposure to PAHs in fish, or sublethal effects, which can be more sensitive indicators of stress than traditional methods. This study was conducted to evaluate DNA damage (a sublethal effect) and PAH exposure in flatfish from southern California bays and harbors, and the Channel Islands. California halibut ( Paralichthys californicus ) were collected from eight bays and harbors (Ventura Harbor, Channel Islands Harbor, Marina del Rey, King Harbor, Alamitos Bay, Long Beach Harbor, Newport Bay, San Diego Bay), and a reference site off Camp Pendleton. Pacific sanddab ( Citharichthys sordidus ) were collected near four of the Channel Islands (San Miguel Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara Island). Metabolites of high molecular weight PAHs in fish bile were characterized using a semi-quantitative technique that measures fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in fish bile. DNA damage in fish blood cells was assessed by measuring the amount of single-strand breaks in stained DNA using the Comet assay. The concentration of FACs in fish from all bays and harbors was elevated, with average concentrations ranging from three to ten times greater than FACs in reference fish. FAC levels were elevated in Pacific sanddabs from a Channel Islands station located between Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa Island. DNA damage varied by a factor of five among California halibut from bays and harbors, with significant damage occurring in fish from Alamitos Bay. There was a significant association between FAC concentrations and DNA damage in California halibut at Marina del Rey and Ventura Harbor, but not at other locations, presumably due to contaminants other than PAHs.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish from remote and high mountain lakes in Europe and Greenland

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in liver of fifty-seven individual trout distributed among seven high mountain lakes in Europe and one remote lake in Greenland. In all cases, very similar distributions were observed in which phenanthrene largely predominated and fluoranthene and pyrene were the second major compounds. These distributions were similar to those observed in the dissolved fraction of the waters studied in three of these lakes. The range of concentrations of PAH in fish liver show only a five-fold variation, which is considerably smaller than the range more than two orders of magnitude of sedimentary PAH concentrations of these lakes. No correlation between PAH content in sediments and fish liver has been found both at the level of total and individual compounds. However, lake site is the main statistically significant factor of variability between PAH concentrations in fish liver. Changes in fish species explain significant differences in liver content of some PAHs. Within lake, condition factor and liver concentration are inversely correlated. Female fish display lower average concentrations than male in all lakes but the differences are not statistically significant. No correspondence between fish age and PAH content has been observed.

FISHERIES SAFETY MONITORING IN THE GUANABARA BAY, BRAZIL FOLLOWING A MARINE FUEL OIL SPILL

ABSTRACT In January 2000, approximately 1,300 m3 (340,000 gallons) of marine fuel oil were released during a pipeline transference accident in the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reaching island and land shorelines situated at the north and northeast part of the bay. An Emergency Action Plan for oil recovery and cleanup was performed, and the effort of this strategy resulted in the recovery of approximately 40% of the spilled oil. Although there was no official fishery closure, several areas were, in practice, closed to marine traffic, and fishermen were not fishing in the oil-affected area; thus, there was a de facto fishery closure. Chemical and toxicological analyses were performed on water and sediment samples to evaluate the degree of the contamination of the affected area 10 days after the spill. The results of these analyses showed background levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in finfish habitat in Guanabara Bay. A study was then conducted as a cooperative effort among the governmental environmental agency (IBAMA), universities, and PETROBRAS to assess the degree of contamination of finfish from the area for hydrocarbons and microorganisms. Microbial essays and chemical analyses for PAHs were conducted on six composite samples of edible tissue of two species (Mugil lisa and Micropogonias furnieri) collected in nets and fish traps in the most affected area. The species were chosen based on their abundance, marketability, and feeding habits. Two samples collected in the bay 1 year before the oil spill were used as reference to PAHs. The microbial analyses were conducted according to the rules from the Health Ministry and also were done for other species collected by net fishing. All samples were found free of microbial contamination and were approved to be consumed in accordance with the MERCOSUL criteria. The concentration of PAHs in the samples collected after the oil spill were at the same level of the reference samples, confirming the expectation from the literature. These results were compared to three international concentration-based and risk-based criteria since there were no legal limits for PAHs in fishes. No sample analyzed contained PAH contamination exceeding the criteria used as reference in this study. No carcinogenic compounds were detected in the samples. The net results of this work were the rapid resumption of the finfisheries and the acquisition of a preliminary database of PAH concentration and microbial conditions on finfish tissue for the Guanabara Bay.

Contamination of Fish and Shellfish Following Oil Spill Incidents

Abstract Accidents and spillages are an inevitable consequence of the worldwide transport of crude oil and refined petroleum products by sea. The number of major spills occurring each year has decreased since the 1970s, but spillages and operational discharges from tankers nonetheless constitute a significant input of oil to the marine environment. The rapid uptake of oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by exposed fish and shellfish, resulting from large oil spillages in coastal waters, poses a potential threat to human consumers of fish and shellfish and also affects the marketability of catches. In this article, the processes influencing uptake and retention of PAHs in fish and shellfish are outlined by drawing on the experience gained from previous incidents. This includes particular reference to three recent major oil spills from tankers in the United Kingdom and the United States, those involving the Exxon Valdez, Braer, and Sea Empress, and to the resulting contamination of local stocks. A more uniform approach to oil spill monitoring would aid comparisons between spills and would help interpret the kinetics and dynamics of released hydrocarbons in future cases. Currently, no statutory limits or guideline values have been established for PAHs in edible tissues of fish or shellfish, whether derived from oil or combustion sources.

Residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish and water from Sultanate of Oman

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in the muscles and the skin of two fish species, Indian mackerel ( Rastrelliger kanagurta ) Indian scad ( Decaptens russelli ) and marine water collected from different places around the Sultanate of Oman, in February and July 1995. Pyrene was the most frequently detected compound with concentration ranging from 42.6 to 405.2 mug kg-1, while benzo(k)fluoranthene was the least frequently detected compound with concentrations ranging from 98.8 to 227.9 mug kg-1. Residues of PAH detected in fish samples have followed no particular pattern and were rather irregular. Concentrations of PAH detected in the two fish species are relatively higher than concentrations detected in seafood around the Gulf Area.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish: Exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers after the gulf oil spill of 1991

This investigation involves a preliminary assessment of public health hazards associated with exposure to PAHs in locally consumed fish from oil-impacted areas after the Gulf oil spill in 1991. Based on levels of 10 PAHs determined in edible parts of fish collected during the NOAA-Mt. Mitchell scientific cruise (April–May 1992), two exposure scenarios were hypothesized. The first scenario considers that the extent of exposure to PAHs is influenced by the frequency of occurrence and the mean concentration of individual PAH compounds. In the second scenario, the maximum detected PAH concentrations are considered as potential extremes in exposure based on the likely preference of consumption of highly contaminated fish. The mean concentration of the frequently occurring pyrene (75%) poses 3.8, 2.37, and 5.85 times the carcinogenic equivalency, carcinogenic potency, and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the mean B(a)P concentration. The maximum concentration of pyrene poses 5.81, 3.62, 8.94 times the carcinogenic equivalency, carcinogenic potency, and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the maximum B(a)P concentration. The mean concentration of anthracene (frequency of occurrence = 10%) poses 8.05 and 1.51 times the carcinogenic potency and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the mean B(a)P concentration. The maximum concentration of anthracene poses 3.29 and 0.62 times the carcinogenic potency and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the maximum B(a)P concentration. The maximum daily intake rate (MDI) of B(a)P equivalencies was estimated at 0.15 μg/d. A preliminary cancer assessment is performed indicating a need for a complete risk assessment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in perch (perca fluviatilis)following an oil‐spill in Vaasa Archipelago, Finland

A high‐sensitive selective ion monitoring GC‐MS method has been used for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish. No oil contamination of fish was found.