Sex differences in contaminant concentrations of fish: a synthesis

Abstract A comparison of whole-fish polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and total mercury (Hg) concentrations in mature males with those in mature females may provide insights into sex differences in behavior, metabolism, and other physiological processes. In eight species of fish, we observed that males exceeded females in whole-fish PCB concentration by 17 to 43 %. Based on results from hypothesis testing, we concluded that these sex differences were most likely primarily driven by a higher rate of energy expenditure, stemming from higher resting metabolic rate (or standard metabolic rate (SMR)) and higher swimming activity, in males compared with females. A higher rate of energy expenditure led to a higher rate of food consumption, which, in turn, resulted in a higher rate of PCB accumulation. For two fish species, the growth dilution effect also made a substantial contribution to the sex difference in PCB concentrations, although the higher energy expenditure rate for males was still the primary driver. Hg concentration data were available for five of the eight species. For four of these five species, the ratio of PCB concentration in males to PCB concentration in females was substantially greater than the ratio of Hg concentration in males to Hg concentration in females. In sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a very primitive fish, the two ratios were nearly identical. The most plausible explanation for this pattern was that certain androgens, such as testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone, enhanced Hg-elimination rate in males. In contrast, long-term elimination of PCBs is negligible for both sexes. According to this explanation, males not only ingest Hg at a higher rate than females but also eliminate Hg at a higher rate than females, in fish species other than sea lamprey. Male sea lamprey do not possess either of the above-specified androgens. These apparent sex differences in SMRs, activities, and Hg-elimination rates in teleost fishes may also apply, to some degree, to higher vertebrates including humans. Our synthesis findings will be useful in (1) developing sex-specific bioenergetics models for fish, (2) developing sex-specific risk assessment models for exposure of humans and wildlife to contaminants, and (3) refining Hg mass balance models for fish and higher vertebrates.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134637/1/13293_2016_Article_90.pd

PAHs, nitro‐PAHs, hopanes, and steranes in lake trout from Lake Michigan

The present study examines concentrations and risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro‐PAHs (NPAHs), steranes, and hopanes in lake trout collected in Lake Michigan. A total of 74 fish were collected in 2 seasons at 3 offshore sites. The total PAH concentration (Σ 9 PAH) in whole fish ranged from 223 pg/g to 1704 pg/g wet weight, and PAH concentrations and profiles were similar across season, site, and sex. The total NPAH (Σ 9 NPAH) concentrations ranged from 0.2 pg/g to 31 pg/g wet weight, and carcinogenic compounds, including 1‐nitropyrene and 6‐nitrochrysene, were detected. In the fall, NPAH concentrations were low at the Illinois site (0.2–0.5 pg/g wet wt), and site profiles differed considerably; in the spring, concentrations and profiles were similar across sites, possibly reflecting changes in fish behavior. In the fall, the total sterane (Σ 5 Sterane) and total hopane (Σ 2 Hopane) levels reached 808 pg/g and 141 pg/g wet weight, respectively, but concentrations in the spring were 10 times lower. Concentrations in eggs (fall only) were on the same order of magnitude as those in whole fish. These results demonstrate the presence of target semivolatile organic compounds in a top predator fish, and are consistent with PAH biodilution observed previously. Using the available toxicity information for PAHs and NPAHs, the expected cancer risk from consumption of lake trout sampled are low. However, NPAHs contributed a significant portion of the toxic equivalencies in some samples. The present study provides the first measurements of NPAHs in freshwater fish, and results suggest that additional assessment is warranted. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1792–1801 . © 2014 SETACPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/108087/1/etc2620.pd

Concentrations and Emissions of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from U.S. Houses and Garages

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been rapidly increasing in fish, birds, sediments, indoor environments, and humans, but emission sources and exposure pathways of these pollutants remain poorly understood. The many BFR-containing materials in buildings constitute a large reservoir of these compounds, and in-use releases from this reservoir may be a significant environmental source. To estimate in-use releases from building materials and contents in residences, we monitored 12 houses and garages in two seasons and combined measurements of BFRs in air and settled dust, air exchange rates, and other information in an approach that utilized the building as a natural test chamber. Results were scaled to provide a first estimate of aggregate emission rates from U.S. houses. PBDE releases total about 4 μ;g h -1 per house or 20 ng m -2 h -1, and U.S. houses and garages collectively release about 4100 kg y -1. Most of these releases are settled floor dust, but about 20% are released directly to the ambient environment via airborne vapor and particulate matter. These screening-level estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty, but they have an advantage in that they reflect real-world conditions based on mass balance calculations. © 2009 American Chemical Society

Formation of Polymer-Carbon Nanotube Composites by Two-Step Supercritical Fluid Treatment

An approach for polymer-carbon nanotube (CNT) composite preparation is proposed based on a two-step supercritical fluid treatment. The first step, rapid expansion of a suspension (RESS) of CNTs in supercritical carbon dioxide, is used to de-bundle CNTs in order to simplify their mixing with polymer in solution. The ability of RESS pre-treatment to de-bundle CNTs and to cause significant bulk volume expansion is demonstrated. The second step is the formation of polymer-CNT composite from solution via supercritical antisolvent (SAS) precipitation. SAS treatment allows avoiding CNT agglomeration during transition from a solution into solid state due to the high speed of phase transition. The combination of these two supercritical fluid methods allowed obtaining a polycarbonate-multiwalled carbon nanotube composite with tensile strength two times higher compared to the initial polymer and enhanced elasticity