1
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Dong Q, LeFevre GH, Mattes TE. Black Carbon Impacts on Paraburkholderia xenovorans Strain LB400 Cell Enrichment and Activity: Implications toward Lower-Chlorinated Polychlorinated Biphenyls Biodegradation Potential. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3895-3907. [PMID: 38356175 PMCID: PMC10902836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Volatilization of lower-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (LC-PCBs) from sediment poses health threats to nearby communities and ecosystems. Biodegradation combined with black carbon (BC) materials is an emerging bioaugmentation approach to remove PCBs from sediment, but development of aerobic biofilms on BC for long-term, sustained LC-PCBs remediation is poorly understood. This work aimed to characterize the cell enrichment and activity of biphenyl- and benzoate-grown Paraburkholderia xenovorans strain LB400 on various BCs. Biphenyl dioxygenase gene (bphA) abundance on four BC types demonstrated corn kernel biochar hosted at least 4 orders of magnitude more attached cells per gram than other feedstocks, and microscopic imaging revealed the attached live cell fraction was >1.5× more on corn kernel biochar than GAC. BC characteristics (i.e., sorption potential, pore size, pH) appear to contribute to cell attachment differences. Reverse transcription qPCR indicated that BC feedstocks significantly influenced bphA expression in attached cells. The bphA transcript-per-gene ratio of attached cells was >10-fold more than suspended cells, confirmed by transcriptomics. RNA-seq also demonstrated significant upregulation of biphenyl and benzoate degradation pathways on attached cells, as well as revealing biofilm formation potential/cell-cell communication pathways. These novel findings demonstrate aerobic PCB-degrading cell abundance and activity could be tuned by adjusting BC feedstocks/attributes to improve LC-PCBs biodegradation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Dong
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- IIHR—Hydroscience
and Engineering, University of Iowa, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics
Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Gregory H. LeFevre
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- IIHR—Hydroscience
and Engineering, University of Iowa, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics
Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Timothy E. Mattes
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- IIHR—Hydroscience
and Engineering, University of Iowa, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics
Laboratory, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
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2
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Matson PG, Stevenson LM, Efroymson RA, Jett RT, Jones MW, Peterson MJ, Mathews TJ. Variation in natural attenuation rates of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish from streams and reservoirs in East Tennessee observed over a 35-year period. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129427. [PMID: 35797787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination due to human activities is a major concern, particularly for persistent chemicals. Within catchments, persistent chemicals linked to negative health outcomes such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have great potential to be transported, through adsorption or biological uptake, with downstream locations acting as sinks for accumulation. Here we present long-term trends in PCB bioaccumulation in fish found in lower-order tributaries on the Oak Ridge Reservation, an impacted US Department of Energy property in East Tennessee, USA, and a large reservoir system adjacent to it composed of parts of the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers. Given that the reservoir system has experienced no direct PCB mitigation activities, this record offers an opportunity to explore potential natural attenuation of PCBs within a large lotic ecosystem. Attenuation rates ranged from 0% to 8% yr-1 in minnows and sunfish at stream sites and 5.4-11.3% yr-1 in catfish at reservoir sites. These rates are comparable to findings from similar studies in other regions, suggesting a consistency in responses since the banning of PCB production in 1979. Further, results suggest that PCB sources from discharge outfalls are important locally but are not primarily responsible for sustaining PCB contamination in downstream reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Matson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Louise M Stevenson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Rebecca A Efroymson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - R Trent Jett
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Michael W Jones
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Mark J Peterson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Teresa J Mathews
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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3
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Gandhi N, Gewurtz SB, Drouillard KG, Kolic T, MacPherson K, Reiner EJ, Bhavsar SP. Dioxins in Great Lakes fish: Past, present and implications for future monitoring. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 222:479-488. [PMID: 30721805 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Dioxins/furans are considered among the most toxic anthropogenic chemicals, and are ubiquitous in the environment including in the North American Great Lakes, which contain one fifth of the world's surface freshwater. Our exposure to dioxins/furans is mainly through contaminated diet. Elevated levels of dioxins/furans in Great Lakes fish have resulted in issuance of fish consumption advisories. Here we examine spatial/temporal trends of dioxins/furans in the edible portion (fillet) of fish from the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes using the data collected by the Province of Ontario, Canada. Our analyses show that the Toxic Equivalent (TEQ) dioxin/furan concentrations declined between 1989 and 2013 in Lake Trout from Lakes Ontario, Huron and Superior by 91%, 78% and 73%, respectively, but increased in Lake Whitefish from Lake Erie by 138%. An expanded dataset created by combining our data with historical Lake Ontario Lake Trout measurements from the literature showed a greater decline of >96% (from 64 to 2.3 pg/g) between 1977 and 2013. Measurements collected for 30 types of fish show overall low levels but local/regional concerns at some locations in Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario. Dioxins/furans are globally present in foodstuff and "zero concentration" target is considered impractical. Based on the observations for the Great Lakes in the context of risk to human health from eating fish, it is concluded that comprehensive monitoring of dioxins/furans can be replaced with targeted locations and/or indicator species, and the saved resources can be more efficiently utilized for monitoring of other priority or emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilima Gandhi
- University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Sarah B Gewurtz
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Ken G Drouillard
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Terry Kolic
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Karen MacPherson
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Eric J Reiner
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Satyendra P Bhavsar
- University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada; University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada; Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada.
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4
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Wattigney WA, Irvin-Barnwell E, Li Z, Davis SI, Manente S, Maqsood J, Scher D, Messing R, Schuldt N, Hwang SA, Aldous KM, Lewis-Michl EL, Ragin-Wilson A. Biomonitoring programs in Michigan, Minnesota and New York to assess human exposure to Great Lakes contaminants. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019; 222:125-135. [PMID: 30153973 PMCID: PMC6376966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Over the past century, industrialization and urban practices have resulted in the contamination of the Great Lakes ecosystem-the world's largest surface freshwater system-that provides drinking water and recreation to more than 40 million residents. In 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes and surrounding areas. Funded by GLRI, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry initiated the Biomonitoring of Great Lakes Populations (BGLP) program. The objective of the program is to assess human exposure to legacy and emerging contaminants in the Great Lakes by measuring the body burden of contaminants in potentially susceptible populations. The BGLP program consists of a series of cross-sectional studies carried out collaboratively with states that are funded through ATSDR. The first BGLP Program (BGLP-I) began in 2010 and was completed in September 2015 through cooperative agreements with state health departments in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. The three state programs targeted susceptible adult populations living in designated areas of contamination. Contaminants measured in all populations include mercury, lead, mirex, hexachlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and selected polychlorinated biphenyl congeners. In addition, some chemicals of emerging concern, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were measured in several populations. The biomonitoring results helped guide public health actions to mitigate chemical exposures in these vulnerable Great Lakes populations. We provide an overview of the BGLP-I program's study populations, designs, and general methods. This overview provides a lead-in for subsequent manuscripts that present human biomonitoring data for legacy and emerging contaminants in culturally diverse susceptible populations-i.e., shoreline anglers, sport anglers, American Indians, and Burmese immigrants-residing in seven areas of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy A Wattigney
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Science, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30341, GE, United States.
| | - Elizabeth Irvin-Barnwell
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Science, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30341, GE, United States
| | - Zheng Li
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Science, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30341, GE, United States
| | - Stephanie I Davis
- Office of Science, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30341, GE, United States
| | - Susan Manente
- Division of Environmental Health, Michigan Department of Human Health Services, 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48909, United States
| | - Junaid Maqsood
- Division of Environmental Health, Michigan Department of Human Health Services, 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48909, United States
| | - Deanna Scher
- Division of Environmental Health, Minnesota Department of Health, 625 N. Robert St., St. Paul, Minnesota, 55164-0975, United States
| | - Rita Messing
- Division of Environmental Health, Minnesota Department of Health, 625 N. Robert St., St. Paul, Minnesota, 55164-0975, United States; Retired from Division of Environmental Health, Minnesota Department of Health, United States
| | - Nancy Schuldt
- Fond du Lac Environmental Program, Division of Resource Management, 28 University Road, Cloquet, MN, 55720, United States
| | - Syni-An Hwang
- Bureau of Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Room 1203, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Kenneth M Aldous
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, PO Box 509, Albany, NY, 12201, United States
| | - Elizabeth L Lewis-Michl
- Bureau of Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Room 1203, Albany, NY, 12237, United States
| | - Angela Ragin-Wilson
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Science, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30341, GE, United States
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5
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Colombo JC, Speranza ED, Astoviza M, Migoya MC, Skorupka CN, Morrone M, Heguilor S, Tatone LM, Bilos C. Long-Term (1970-2017) Temporal Trends of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Fish, Settling Material, and Sediments from Populated and Remote Sites in Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:12412-12418. [PMID: 30338687 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied for detritivorous fish (1996-2017) and settling material (2002-2017) from polluted Buenos Aires coast and for a dated sediment core (1970-2013) from the outer Río de la Plata estuary. In spite of contrasting concentrations [5.3 ± 6.3 μg·g-1 dry weight (dw) for fish, 48 ± 26 ng·g-1 dw for settling material, and 1.5 ± 0.7 ng·g-1 dw for core], all three revealed exponentially decreasing trends over time (97%, 83%, and 83%, respectively). Time trends showed peak maxima coincident with Argentina's period of maximum PCB usage in 1973-1980 (80 cm depth in the core) and pulse discharges related to PCB banning in 2001-2002 (fish) with a lighter signature enriched in less persistent tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls. The log-linear PCB time trends compare well with the predicted decrease for a high emission scenario from global emission data; the best fit was observed for the less impacted sediment core (-2%·year-1 versus -3%·year-1 for emission scenario). Steeper slopes are observed for the more polluted settling material (-5%·year-1) and especially for fish, in which the background decline trend tripled after the 2001 PCB pulse (from -7%·year-1 to -21%·year-1). These PCB time trends in related environmental compartments from contrasted sites provide rare evidence for evaluating the effectiveness of control measures in southern South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Colombo
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires , Calle 526 entre 10 y 11 , B1900 La Plata , Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Eric Demian Speranza
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Godoy Cruz 2290 , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Malena Astoviza
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - María Carolina Migoya
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Godoy Cruz 2290 , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Carlos Norberto Skorupka
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Manuel Morrone
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Santiago Heguilor
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Godoy Cruz 2290 , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Leandro Martín Tatone
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Godoy Cruz 2290 , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires , Argentina
| | - Claudio Bilos
- Laboratorio de Química Ambiental y Biogeoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo , Universidad Nacional de La Plata , Avenida Calchaqui km 23 500 , C1888 Florencio Varela , Buenos Aires , Argentina
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6
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Zhou C, Pagano J, Crimmins BA, Hopke PK, Milligan MS, Murphy EW, Holsen TM. Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides concentration patterns and trends in top predator fish of Laurentian Great Lakes from 1999 to 2014. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH 2018; 44:716-724. [PMID: 30319171 PMCID: PMC6178843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Concentration patterns and temporal trends of legacy persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) contaminants were determined using the Great Lake Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP) top predator fish data from 1999 to 2014 and applying Kendall-Theil robust regression after cluster-based age normalization. For most Great Lakes sites, significant decreasing concentration trends ranging from -4.1% to -21.6% per year (with the only exception being mirex in Lake Erie walleye) were found for PBTs including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane (DDTs), dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, oxychlordane, nonachlor, mirex, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) reflecting the successful historical and ongoing reduction of fugitive releases and remediation efforts in the U.S. and Canada including physical removal (dredging) coupled with sediment sequestration. Generally, lower concentrations and faster decreasing trends are observed in western/northern sampling sites compared to eastern/southern sites as the former sites are generally more remote from population centers and industrial activities. PCBs, which can be released from ongoing sources, have the highest concentration, the second slowest decreasing trend, and increasing mass fractions of the contaminants studied suggesting that they will continue to be the legacy contaminant of greatest concern into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanlong Zhou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA
| | - James Pagano
- Environmental Research Center, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126, USA
| | | | - Philip K. Hopke
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, USA
| | - Michael S. Milligan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Houghton Hall, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA
| | - Elizabeth W. Murphy
- Great Lakes National Program Office, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
| | - Thomas M. Holsen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA
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7
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Rawn DFK, Dowd M, Scuby MJS, Pantazopoulos PP, Feeley M. Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polychlorinated Dioxins-Furans in Lake Trout and Whitefish Composite Samples from Commercial Fisheries in Lakes Erie, Huron, and Superior. J Food Prot 2017; 80:1228-1238. [PMID: 28686496 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; sum of 36 congeners) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs; sum of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners) were measured in 93 composite samples prepared from individual lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) samples collected from Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior. All samples had detectable concentrations of PCBs and PCDD/Fs; maximum PCB concentrations in both trout (750 ng g-1 whole weight [ww]) and whitefish (210 ng g-1 ww) were found in composites from fish collected from Lake Huron. The maximum toxic equivalent concentration was found in a lake trout composite sample from Lake Huron (53 pg g-1 ww). PCB and PCDD/F congener profiles were comparable to patterns observed in fishes collected from other regions of Canada, although concentrations were above those found in other regions. A positive correlation was found between PCB concentrations determined using the historical Aroclor equivalency method and those determined using the sum of the congeners measured (r2 = 0.871; Spearman correlation r = 0.917) or using the six indicator PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180; r2 = 0.850; Spearman correlation r = 0.935). PCBs were the dominant contributor to the overall toxic equivalent concentrations in the fish composite samples tested. These findings provide insight into PCB and PCDD/F concentrations in two commercially important fish species over a discrete time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea F K Rawn
- 1 Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
| | - Michael Dowd
- 2 Ontario Regional Laboratory, Regions and Programs Branch, Health Canada, 2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1P 4R7
| | - Matthew J S Scuby
- 2 Ontario Regional Laboratory, Regions and Programs Branch, Health Canada, 2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1P 4R7
| | - Peter P Pantazopoulos
- 2 Ontario Regional Laboratory, Regions and Programs Branch, Health Canada, 2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1P 4R7
| | - Mark Feeley
- 3 Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2202C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
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8
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Gandhi N, Bhavsar SP, Gewurtz SB, Drouillard KG, Arhonditsis GB, Petro S. Is it appropriate to composite fish samples for mercury trend monitoring and consumption advisories? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 88:80-85. [PMID: 26724584 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring mercury levels in fish can be costly because variation by space, time, and fish type/size needs to be captured. Here, we explored if compositing fish samples to decrease analytical costs would reduce the effectiveness of the monitoring objectives. Six compositing methods were evaluated by applying them to an existing extensive dataset, and examining their performance in reproducing the fish consumption advisories and temporal trends. The methods resulted in varying amount (average 34-72%) of reductions in samples, but all (except one) reproduced advisories very well (96-97% of the advisories did not change or were one category more restrictive compared to analysis of individual samples). Similarly, the methods performed reasonably well in recreating temporal trends, especially when longer-term and frequent measurements were considered. The results indicate that compositing samples within 5cm fish size bins or retaining the largest/smallest individuals and compositing in-between samples in batches of 5 with decreasing fish size would be the best approaches. Based on the literature, the findings from this study are applicable to fillet, muscle plug and whole fish mercury monitoring studies. The compositing methods may also be suitable for monitoring Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in fish. Overall, compositing fish samples for mercury monitoring could result in a substantial savings (approximately 60% of the analytical cost) and should be considered in fish mercury monitoring, especially in long-term programs or when study cost is a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Satyendra P Bhavsar
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada; Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, ON M9P 3V6, Canada; University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Sarah B Gewurtz
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Ken G Drouillard
- University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | | | - Steve Petro
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, ON M9P 3V6, Canada
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9
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Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread persistent anthropogenic contaminants that can accumulate in tissues of fish. The toxicity of PCBs and their transformation products has been investigated for nearly 50 years, but there is a lack of consensus regarding the effects of these environmental contaminants on wild fish populations. The objective of this review is to critically examine these investigations and evaluate publicly available databases for evidence of effects of PCBs in wild fish. Biological activity of PCBs is limited to a small proportion of PCB congeners [e.g., dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs)] and occurs at concentrations that are typically orders of magnitude higher than PCB levels detected in wild fish. Induction of biomarkers consistent with PCB exposure (e.g., induction of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system) has been evaluated frequently and shown to be induced in fish from some environments, but there does not appear to be consistent reports of damage (i.e., biomarkers of effect) to biomolecules (i.e., oxidative injury) in these fish. Numerous investigations of endocrine system dysfunction or effects on other organ systems have been conducted in wild fish, but collectively there is no consistent evidence of PCB effects on these systems in wild fish. Early life stage toxicity of DL-PCBs does not appear to occur at concentrations reported in wild fish embryos, and results do not support an association between PCBs and decreased survival of early life stages of wild fish. Overall, there appears to be little evidence that PCBs have had any widespread effect on the health or survival of wild fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- T B Henry
- a School of Life Sciences, John Muir Building, Heriot-Watt University , Edinburgh, EH14 4AS , UK.,b The University of Tennessee Center for Environmental Biotechnology , 676 Dabney Hall, Knoxville , Tennessee 37996, USA.,c Department of Forestry , Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee , 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville , Tennessee , 37996, USA
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10
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Lebeuf M, Measures L, Noël M, Raach M, Trottier S. A twenty-one year temporal trend of persistent organic pollutants in St. Lawrence Estuary beluga, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 485-486:377-386. [PMID: 24742546 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in blubber from 144 stranded adult belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) found on the shores of the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) between 1987 and 2007. Temporal trends of POP concentrations (ln transformed) in beluga were described by three models, zero slope (ZS), linear (L) and two-segment piecewise (PW). Often two but sometimes all three models were equivalent in describing temporal trends based on Akaike's Information Criterion for small sample sizes. Over this 21-year time period, concentrations of most legacy POPs, including PCBs, DDTs and HCHs, exhibited relatively weak (≤11% per year) but significant decreasing trends in beluga. For PBDEs, temporal trends were best described by a PW model, characterizing a rapid increase until 1997-1998 followed by a slower increase for males and a steady-state for females. Potential cofactors such as blubber lipid content and carcass state of preservation did not show any significant temporal trends over the time period considered. Nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ(15)N) in beluga liver, a proxy of trophic level, could not be associated to any effect on temporal trends of POP concentrations in beluga. Several POPs exhibited significant relationships with age of beluga and data were age-adjusted. Temporal trends of POP concentrations adjusted for age of beluga were reassessed but results were essentially identical as those obtained with the original POP data. Overall, POP temporal trends observed in SLE beluga are consistent with changes expected from regulations and restrictions in the use of these compounds in developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Lebeuf
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada.
| | - Lena Measures
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada
| | - Michelle Noël
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada
| | - Meriem Raach
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada
| | - Steve Trottier
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada
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11
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Gandhi N, Tang RWK, Bhavsar SP, Arhonditsis GB. Fish mercury levels appear to be increasing lately: a report from 40 years of monitoring in the province of Ontario, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:5404-14. [PMID: 24678891 DOI: 10.1021/es403651x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent mercury levels and trends reported for North America suggest a mixed (positive/negative) outlook for the environmental mercury problem. Using one of the largest consistent monitoring data sets in the world, here we present long-term and recent mercury trends in Walleye, Northern Pike, and Lake Trout from the Province of Ontario, Canada, which contains about one-third of the world's fresh water and covers a wide geographical area (1.5 and 3 times larger than France and Germany, respectively). Overall, the results indicate that the fish mercury levels either declined (0.01-0.07 μg/g decade) or remained stable between the 1970s and 2012. The rates of mercury decline were substantially greater (mostly 0.05-0.31 μg/g decade) during the 1970s/80s possibly in response to reductions in mercury emissions. However, Walleye and Pike levels have generally increased (0.01-0.27 μg/g decade) in recent years (1995-2012), especially for northern Ontario (effect sizes for differences between the two periods ranged from 0.39 to 1.04). Proportions of Walleye and Pike locations showing a flat or increasing trend increased from 26-44% to 59-73% between the 1970s/80s and 1995-2012. Mercury emissions in North America have declined over the last few decades, and as such it is logical to expect recovery in fish mercury levels; however, other factors such as global emissions, climate change, invasive species, and local geochemistry are likely affecting the response time and magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilima Gandhi
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4
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12
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Clements WH, Hickey CW, Kidd KA. How do aquatic communities respond to contaminants? It depends on the ecological context. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2012; 31:1932-40. [PMID: 22903782 DOI: 10.1002/etc.1937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Context dependency refers to variation in ecological patterns and processes across environmental or spatiotemporal gradients. Research on context dependency in basic ecology has focused primarily on variation in the relative importance of species interactions (e.g., competition and predation) among communities. In this Focus article, the authors extend this concept to include variation in responses of communities to contaminants and other anthropogenic stressors. Because the structure of communities varies naturally along environmental gradients, their responses to contaminants may also vary. Similar to the way in which aquatic toxicologists assess abiotic factors associated with contaminant bioavailability, observations about context dependency could be used to test hypotheses about ecological mechanisms responsible for differences in sensitivity among communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Clements
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
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13
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Organohalogen contaminants of emerging concern in Great Lakes fish: a review. Anal Bioanal Chem 2012; 404:2639-58. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6300-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2012] [Revised: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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14
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Neff MR, Bhavsar SP, Arhonditsis GB, Fletcher R, Jackson DA. Long-term changes in fish mercury levels in the historically impacted English-Wabigoon River system (Canada). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:2327-37. [PMID: 22785387 DOI: 10.1039/c2em30324h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The English-Wabigoon River system in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, was one of the most heavily mercury-contaminated waterways in the world due to historical discharges in the 1960s from a chlor-alkali plant. This study examines long-term (1970-2010) monitoring data to assess temporal trends in mercury contamination in Walleye, Northern Pike and Lake Whitefish, three species important for sport and subsistence fishing in this region, using dynamic linear modeling and piecewise regression. For all lakes and species, there is a significant decline (36-94%) in mercury concentrations through time; however, there is evidence that this decline is either slowing down or levelling off. Concentrations in the English-Wabigoon fish are elevated, and may still present a potential health risk to humans consuming fish from this system. Various biotic and abiotic factors are examined as possible explanations to slowing rates of decline in mercury concentrations observed in the mid-1980s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret R Neff
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Ekram Azim M, Letchumanan M, Abu Rayash A, Shimoda Y, Bhavsar SP, Arhonditsis GB. Detection of temporal trends of α- and γ-chlordane in Lake Erie fish communities using dynamic linear modeling. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2011; 74:1107-21. [PMID: 21536330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 04/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic linear modeling (DLM) analysis was performed to identify the long-term temporal trends of two toxic components of the technical chlordane pesticide, α- and γ-chlordane, in skinless-boneless muscle tissues of a number of sport fish species in Lake Erie. Our analysis considers the fish length as a covariate of the chlordane concentrations. The α-chlordane models for the coho salmon, channel catfish, rainbow trout, and common carp showed continuously decreasing trends during the entire 30+ year survey period (1976-2007). The γ-chlordane models demonstrated similar trends for the coho salmon, channel catfish, and common carp. These fish species had higher levels of α- and γ-chlordane in their muscle tissues. The α- and γ-chlordane levels in freshwater drum, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, whitefish, and yellow perch decreased until the mid-1980s and hovered at levels around the detection limits for the remaining period. The pesticide biotransformation process, the reduction of contaminant emissions to the environment, the feeding habits of the different fish species, and the food-web alterations induced by the introduction of aquatic invasive species are some of the hypotheses proposed to explain the observed temporal trends in different fish species in Lake Erie.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ekram Azim
- Ecological Modeling Laboratory, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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