PBDE levels in franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei):Temporal trend and geographical comparison

Total PBDE concentrations determined in archived blubber samples from franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) unintentionally captured in the Brazilian coastal region off Rio Grande do Sul State (FMA III) between 1994 and 2004 (n = 73) ranged from 7.9 to 65 ng g−1 lipid weight in mature males, with an increase over the ten-year period. Total PBDE concentrations in blubber samples collected from the FAM II (n = 41) between 2002 and 2005 were higher (67.8 to 763.7 ng g−1 lw) than those from FMA III. This is possibly due to the proximity to important industrial development sites in the state of São Paulo. Despite the differences in total concentrations, PBDE profiles were comparable and the PBDE concentrations decreased in the following order BDE 47 N BDE99 N BDE 100 for both FMA and for males and females as well as adults, juveniles and pup

Copper, zinc, mercury and arsenic content in Micropogonias furnieri and Mugil platanus of the Montevideo coastal zone, Río de la Plata

Abstract Metals (Cu, Zn, Hg) and metalloid (As) concentrations were measured in Micropogonias furnieri and Mugil platanus caught in three areas along the Montevideo coastal zone during winter 2010, spring 2010 and 2011. Compared to previous studies conducted in the zone, both species showed higher (for Cu), similar (for Zn) or lower (for Hg) concentrations. The highest Hg values were found in the M. furnieri of Montevideo bay. There was no spatial variation in Cu, Zn, and As concentrations in muscle, likely due to the high mobility of both species. However, the Cu content in the liver of M. furnieri was higher in fish from the West zone. Cu, Zn and As found in the liver of M. platanus were much higher than in that of M. furnieri. A functional relationship between muscle levels of Zn and Hg and fish length of M. furnieri indicates bioaccumulation of these metals. According to the results, M. furnieri may be used as a temporal bioindicator for Hg, but not as a spatial bioindicator. Mercury levels were below the maximum safety level based on international standard values for human consumption

Sampling of Fish, Benthic Species, and Seabird Eggs in Pollution Assessment

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An assessment of two decades of trace metals monitoring in wild mussels from the Northwest Atlantic and Cantabrian coastal areas of Spain, 1991-2011

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Differences in the induction of cyp1A and related genes in cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Additional considerations for the use of EROD activity as a biomarker

Two rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fish farms were repeatedly sampled in order to observe the variability of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and of related genes in the liver. Fish coming from fish farm A exhibited EROD levels that could be considered as basal according to the scientific literature, however, EROD activity in fish coming from fish farm B was significantly increased. This was accompanied by augmented aryl hydrocarbon receptor (ahr) and cytochrome P4501A (cyp1A) messenger RNA expression and reduced oestrogen receptor (er) and vitellogenin (vtg) transcription. Only sediment extracts from the entry channel of fish farm B induced EROD activity in O. mykiss cultured cells, however, this induction could not be explained by the levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) measured in the sediments. The results of this study point out that O. mykiss cultured in fish farms could be used as sentinels for indication of pollution. In this particular work, however, no conclusive evidence has been found for a relationship between the presence of PAHs and PCBs and the observed EROD induction. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology © 2012 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Risk ranking of multiple-POPs in detritivorous fish from the Río de la Plata

To evaluate the bioaccumulation and the risk associated to consumption of lipid-rich detritivorous fish, a comprehensive set of organic pollutants (n=213) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin like PCBs (dlPCBs), chlorinated pesticides (CHLPs), chlorobenzenes (CBzs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins and furans (PCDD/F), resolved (ALI) and unresolved aliphatic hydrocarbons (UCM) and linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) were analyzed in Sábalo fish (Prochilodus lineatus) collected in the polluted Metropolitan Buenos Aires coast and in migrating specimens. Fatty fish muscles (lipids: 74±9.3% dry weight) contained homogeneous (24-51% variability) and very high-concentrations of organic pollutants ranging from 60 to 1300μgg-1 fresh weight (fw) ALI+UCM; 10-40μgg-1 fw LABs and PCBs; 0.1-1μgg-1 fw dlPCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, CBzs and PBDEs; 0.01-0.1μgg-1 fw mirex, endosulfans, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and 0.07-0.2ngg-1 PCDD/F. Total toxicity equivalents (TEQs) ranged from 60 to 395pgg-1 fw (34±17 and 213±124pgg-1 TEQs for PCDD/F and dlPCBs respectively). These are among the highest concentrations reported for fish and point out the remarkable ability of Sábalo to feed on anthropogenic organic-enriched particles and tolerate a high pollutant load. Contaminant signatures show partial alteration with still abundant lower molecular weight components indicating that fish feeds directly in the outfalls. Consumption limits based on reference doses ranged from 0.1 (PCBs) to >12000gd-1 (endosulfan) allowing a comprehensive risk-based ranking of contaminants in this long-range migrating, detritivorous fish.Fil: Colombo, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Cappelletti, Natalia Elsa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica; ArgentinaFil: Williamson, M.. Environment Canada; CanadáFil: Migoya, Maria Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica; ArgentinaFil: Speranza, Eric Demian. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sericano, J.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Muir, D.C.G.. Environment Canada; Canad

Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Sediments and Biota From Four US Arctic Lakes

Organochlorine (OC) concentrations in surface sediment, snails (Lymnea sp.), and two freshwater fish species (grayling, Thymallus arcticus; and lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush) from four lakes in the US Arctic were determined. In surface sediment, chlorinated benzenes (including hexachlorobenzene, HCB), and p,p\u27-DDT were the primary analytes detected (max = 0.7 ng/g dry wt), while individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were always below 0.1 ng/g. A wider range of compounds and higher concentrations were found in lake trout, the top predatory fish species in the same lakes. The concentration ranges for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordane-related compounds (CHLORs), DDTs, and PCBs in lake trout and grayling were similar to those reported for other arctic freshwater fish (1- 100 ng/g wet wt), but one to two orders of magnitude lower than Great Lakes salmonids. Nitrogen isotope analysis confirmed that differences in OC concentrations between grayling and lake trout are explained partly by differences in food web position

Long-term changes in contamination and macrobenthic communities adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Improved waste management at McMurdo Station, Antarctica beginning in the 1980s has been followed by decreases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal contamination in the adjacent marine sediments. However, determining the effect of the decreased contamination on marine ecological indicators (macrobenthic fauna) is confounded by concurrent changes in climate cycles and other physical forces. Between 2000 and 2013, there was a decrease in concentrations of some contaminants including mercury, copper, organochlorines, and PAHs in marine sediments adjacent to McMurdo Station. PAH concentrations in Winter Quarters Bay decreased an order of magnitude from 2000/2003 to 2012/2013 and were within an order of magnitude of reference area concentrations by 2013. Macrobenthic communities did not indicate any sign of recovery and have not become more similar to reference communities over this same period of time. Temporal changes in macrobenthic community composition during the study period had higher correlations with climatic and sea ice dynamics than with changes in contaminant concentrations. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation climatic index had the highest correlation with macrobenthic community composition. The Antarctic Oscillation climatic index, maximum ice extent and other natural environmental factors also appear to influence macrobenthic community composition. Despite large improvements in environmental management at McMurdo Station, continuing environmental vigilance is necessary before any noticeable improvement in ecological systems is likely to occur. The effects of climate must be considered when determining temporal changes in anthropogenic effects in Antarctica. Maintaining long-term monitoring of both contaminants and ecological indicators is important for determining the localized and global influences of humans on Antarctica, which will have implications for the whole planet