Assessment of risk to humans of bisphenol A in marine and freshwater fish from Pearl River Delta, China

Distribution, bioaccumulation and human exposure risk of bisphenol analogues, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and its derivatives in the Dongjiang River basin, south China

Bisphenols, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) are commonly used as raw materials or additives in the production of several industrial and consumer products. However, information regarding the occurrence and distribution of these industrial chemicals in freshwater ecosystem is limited. In this study, four bisphenols, six BADGEs, and three BFDGEs were determined in abiotic and biotic samples collected from the Dongjiang River basin in southern China. Among the four bisphenols, BPA was widely present in all samples analyzed including surface water (median: 1.81 ng/L), sediment (3.1 ng/g dw), aquatic plants (3.69 ng/g dw), algae (7.57 ng/g dw), zooplankton (6.17 ng/g dw), and fish muscle (5.28 ng/g dw). Among the nine BADGEs and BFDGEs analyzed, BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE·HCl·H2O and BADGE•2H2O was found in all sample types. Although the median concentration of BADGE•2H2O in surface water was below LOQ, this compound was found at median concentrations of 2.61, 3.59, 1.03, 1.69, and 49.8 ng/g dw in sediment, plants, algae, zooplankton, and fish muscle, respectively. Significant positive linear correlations were found among logarithmic transformed concentrations of BPA, BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE•HCl•H2O, and BADGE•2H2O in sediment. The bioconcentration factor (logBCF) values of BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE•HCl, BADGE•HCl•H2O, BADGE•2H2O, and BADGE•2HCl in fish, plants, algae, and zooplankton were > 3.3 L/kg (wet weight), indicating that these chemicals possess moderate bioaccumulation potential. The estimated daily total intake of bisphenols and BADGEs through fish consumption was 75.1 ng/kg bw/day for urban adult residents. The study provides baseline information on the occurrence of bisphenols, BADGEs, and BFDGEs in a freshwater ecosystem.

Assessing dietary bisphenol A exposure among Koreans: comprehensive database construction and analysis using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure primarily occurs through dietary intake. This study aimed to estimate the extent of dietary BPA exposure among Koreans. A thorough literature search was conducted to establish a BPA content database encompassing common foods consumed in Korea, including various food raw materials and processed food products. Dietary exposure levels were estimated by integrating the constructed BPA database with comprehensive nationwide 24 h-dietary recall datasets. The finding revealed that dietary BPA exposure was low for most Koreans, with a mean of 14.5 ng/kg bw/day, but was higher for preschool-age children (over 23 ng). Canned foods accounted for 9-36% of the total dietary exposure of the highest dietary exposure groups; while across all age groups, a considerable amount was derived from canned tuna, contribution of canned fruits and canned coffee (milk-containing) was high for preschool-age children and adults, respectively. Notably, for adults, a substantial proportion also stemmed from beer packaged in cans. While diet contributed over 80% of aggregate exposure for most age groups, preschool-age children experienced 60% exposure through diet due to additional exposure from indoor dust. Even at the high exposure scenario, aggregate BPA exposure levels remained lower than the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) set by the Korean agency (20 μg/kg bw/day). Nevertheless, most Koreans were exposed to BPA levels surpassing the strictest TDI (0.2 ng/kg bw/day) set by the European Food Safety Authority.

Concentrations, sources and health risk of bisphenols in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) from South-Eastern China

Bisphenol analogs (BPs) are extensively employed in commercial and industrial products and they have been found in a variety of environmental matrices and human samples. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has been a trendy food in China in recent decades. However, the levels of BPs in Chinese crayfish and the associated hazards of human exposure remain unknown. Thus, in this study, the levels of eight BPs in crayfish gathered from five major provinces engaged in crayfish within the Yangtze River Basin were analyzed. Additionally, the health risks for humans by ingesting crayfish were calculated. BPs were frequently detected in crayfish tissues, indicating the wide occurrence of these chemicals. In comparison to other substitutions, BPA remains the dominant bisphenol analog. Most of the BPs were observed to accumulate in the hepatopancreas compared to the muscle, so consuming the hepatopancreas of crayfish is not recommended. With the exception of BPS, the Estimated Daily Intakes (EDIs) of the remaining BPs exceeded the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) specified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) by a factor of 1.75-69.0. The mean hazard index (HI) values exceeded 1 for both hepatopancreas and muscle in all provinces, and the mean HI values for hepatopancreas were significantly higher than those for muscle, indicating potential health risks for local consumers.

Environmental bisphenol A disrupts methylation of steroidogenic genes in the ovary of Paradise threadfin Polynemus paradiseus via abnormal DNA methylation: Implications for human exposure and health risk assessment

Bisphenol A, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) impacting disease development via epigenetic modifications, is crucial in transcriptional regulation. However, ecotoxicology's limited exploration of epigenetics prompted our study's objective: examining the extended exposure of riverine Bisphenol A (BPA), a potent EDC, on DNA methylation during female paradise threadfin (Polynemus paradiseus) reproductive maturation. Assessing BPA contamination in riverine water, we collected fish samples from two locations with distinct contamination levels. In the highly contaminated region (Hc), we observed elevated DNA methylation in aromatase (7.5-fold), 20β-HSD (3-fold), and FSHR (2-fold) genes. Hormone receptor investigation highlighted an escalating connection between transcriptional hyper-methylation and contamination levels. Additionally, our study revealed a positive correlation between oocyte growth and global DNA methylation, suggesting BPA's potential to modify DNA methylation in female paradise threadfins. This effect likely occurs through changes in hormone receptor expression, persisting throughout oocyte maturation. Notably, our research, the first of its kind in estuarine areas, confirmed BPA contamination in paradise threadfins, raising concerns about potential health risks for humans.

Bisphenol A contamination in Hilsa shad and assessment of potential health hazard: A pioneering investigation in the national river Ganga, India

The anadromous Hilsa, often known as the "Queen of Fishes" (Tenualosa ilisha), is the most valuable fishery in the Ganga-Hooghly delta estuary. Although BPA exposure has been shown to be harmful to aquatic organisms, no research has looked at the effects of BPA on the commercially valuable Hilsa shad of river Ganga. To close this information vacuum, we examined BPA levels in Hilsa fish from the Ganga estuary. Liver, muscle, kidney, and gonads were all positive for BPA among the Hilsa fish of all ages. Liver BPA levels were highest in adult males (272.16 ± 0.38 ng/g-dw), and lowest in juveniles (5.46 ± 0.06 ng/g-dw). BPA concentrations in the Hilsa shad muscle were highest in reproductively mature females (196.23 ± 0.41 ng/g-dw). The study also discovered a correlation between fish development and BPA exposure, with higher levels of BPA being identified in adult Hilsa species. This is the first study to look at the impact of BPA pollution on aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, and it showed that Hilsa shad is contaminated with BPA and poses health hazards to human beings. The results, which demonstrate BPA contamination, are useful for protecting Hilsa in the river Ganga.

Occurrence and risk characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in seafood from the Persian Gulf

Potential exposure to 14 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through seafood consumption was investigated in widely consumed seafood (Platycephalus indicus, Lethrinus nebulosus, and Penaeus semisulcatus) from the Persian Gulf. A total of 61 samples of fish and prawns were purchased from local fishers at Bushehr port (Persian Gulf, South-West of Iran) and were analyzed for PFAS compounds. In addition, potential factors influencing factor of PFAS bioaccumulation in fish and invertebrates such as age, sex, and habitat, were investigated. ƩPFAS concentrations were in the range of 2.3- 6.1 ng/g-d.w (mean = 3.9 ± 1.9) in studied species which are equal to 0.46-1.2 ng/g-w.w according to their conversion factor. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most abundant perfluorinated compound in studied organisms and tissues. The results of correlation analysis showed that the bioaccumulation of PFAS in aquatic organisms is significantly correlated to the length of the compound's carbon chain, the identity of anionic group, and organism's age, sex, and habitant. The risk assessment using hazard index calculation and Monte-Carlo simulation indicated that weekly consumption of prawn and fish fillets does not pose a health risk to adults but might threaten children's health. However, the risk posed by PFAS exposure via entire fish or fish liver intake is an important issue for wild marine mammals (i.e., dolphins). So, accurate and routine monitoring of PFAS in aquatic environments seems mandatory to preserve wildlife and human health in the Persian Gulf.

A Mini-review of the Toxicity of Pollutants to Fish Under Different Salinities

In recent years, with the development of the global economy, water pollution has increased. Pollutants migrate, accumulate, and diffuse in aquatic environments. Most of the pollutants eventually enter aquatic organisms. The accumulation of pollutants affects the development and reproduction of organisms, and many pollutants have teratogenic, carcinogenic, and/or mutagenic effects. Aquatic organisms in estuaries and coastal areas are under pressure due to both salinity and pollutants. Among them, salinity, as an environmental factor, may affect the behavior of pollutants in the aquatic environment, causing changes in their toxic effects on fishes. Salinity also directly affects the growth and development of fishes. Therefore, this paper focuses on metals and organic pollutants and discusses the toxic effects of pollutants on fish under different salinities. This research is of great significance to environmental protection and ecological risk assessment of aquatic environments.

Bacterioplankton community indicators for seasonal variation in a fragmented subtropical river

In this study, spatiotemporal investigations were conducted along five cascade dams in the main channel of the North River of China during 2019 to explore bacterioplankton community indicators of water environments in a fragmented, highly regulated river. Bacterioplankton communities were good bioindicators of temporal variation in river environments, especially when considering the bacterial class level. Specifically, the most dominant bacterial classes (Gammaproteobacteria, Oxyphotobacteria, and Actinobacteria) and sub-dominant bacterial classes (Bacteroidia, Betaproteobacteria, and Acidimicrobiia) exhibited obvious temporal variation. Rainfall, water temperature (WT), water transparency (SD), and pH were all highly associated with temporal variation. In contrast, bacterioplankton indicators of spatial variation were limited to individual dominant bacterial classes for individual study periods, while rainfall, total phosphorus (TP), and pH were also associated with spatial variation. Clustering of bacterioplankton community compositions revealed that temporal differences were much stronger than spatial differences, which is consistent with most environmental parameters exhibiting obvious temporal differences, but minimal spatial differences. A possible reason for these observations could be that river fragmentation caused by cascade dams weakened spatial differences in communities, with WT, rainfall, and river runoff playing key roles in these patterns. In conclusion, bacterioplankton communities were good bioindicators of water environments in the fragmented river ecosystem of this study and their temporal variation was more apparent than their spatial variation.

Microplastics and bisphenol A hamper gonadal development of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by interfering with metabolism and disrupting hormone regulation

Gonadal development is a prerequisite for the reproductive success of an organism, and might be affected by environmental factors such as emergent pollutants. Although marine crustaceans are threatened by ubiquitous emergent pollutants such as microplastics (MPs) and bisphenol A (BPA) under realistic scenarios, studies about the impacts of these pollutants on the gonadal development of crustacean species are rare. In this study, the effects of MPs and BPA, alone or in combination, on gonadal development were investigated in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The results obtained demonstrated that whiteleg shrimp exposed to MPs and BPA had significantly smaller gonad-somatic index (GSI) and an obvious delay in the gonad developmental stage. In addition, exposure of whiteleg shrimp to pollutants tested resulted in a reduction in the oxygen consumption rate, elevation in the ammonia excretion rate, decline in the O: N ratio, and downregulation in the expression of metabolism-related genes, indicating significant disruptions of shrimp metabolism by the pollutants. Furthermore, in addition to a few exceptions, both the in vivo contents of gonadal development-related hormones (GIH and MIH) and the expression of genes encoding regulatory hormones (GIH, MIH, and CHH) were upregulated by the exposure of whiteleg shrimp to the pollutants investigated, suggesting a significant obstruction of endocrine regulation. Moreover, MP-BPA coexposure was shown to be more toxic to whiteleg shrimp than the corresponding single exposures and significantly greater amount of BPA accumulated in the gonads (both testis and ovaries) of shrimp with the coexistence of MPs, which may be caused by the Trojan horse effect and summation of the toxic impacts on common targets. In general, the data obtained in this study demonstrated that MPs and BPA at environmentally realistic concentrations significantly inhibited the gonadal development of whiteleg shrimp probably by interfering with metabolism and disrupting endocrine regulation.

Lake ecosystem health assessment using a novel hybrid decision-making framework in the Nam Co, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Lake health assessment (LHA), a powerful tool for lake ecological protection, provides the foundation for sustainable water environment management. However, existing methods have not yet considered the effects of fuzziness and randomness on LHA. In addition, most of the current studies on LHA focus on the plain areas, lack of quantitative studies in mountain areas, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Pythagorean fuzzy cloud (PFC) integration algorithm drawing on the advantages of Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFS) and cloud model was proposed. A novel hybrid decision-making framework combining PFC integration algorithm and TOPSIS model was developed to determine the lake health levels with fuzziness and randomness. An indicator system incorporating ecosystem integrity (physical habitat, water quantity and quality, aquatic life) and non-ecological performance (social services) was established. To comprehensively investigate the lake health level in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Nam Co was selected as study area. Our results confirm that the developed framework in this study can overcome the shortcomings of existing methods and provide a more effective approach for LHA with fuzziness and randomness. In Nam Co, the non-ecological performance was significantly better than the ecosystem integrity. Health levels exhibited a remarkable spatial variation influenced by tourism and grazing, with decreasing health status from the northwestern to southeastern Nam Co. Approximately 85% of the sampling sites were at excellent or healthy levels, 15% were subhealthy, and no sampling sites were unhealthy and sick. Our results highlight that tourism has affected health levels at Nam Co, and effective measures are needed to minimize the impact in ecological fragile areas.

Levels of Phthalates, Bisphenol-A, Nonylphenol, and Microplastics in Fish in the Estuaries of Northern Taiwan and the Impact on Human Health

Due to the sparsity in knowledge, we investigated the presence of various estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDCs), including phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol-A (BPA), and nonylphenol (NP), as well as microplastics (MPs) in samples of the most widely consumed fish collected from different estuaries in northern Taiwan. We then proceeded to determine the likely contribution that this exposure has on the potential for health impacts in humans following consumption of the fish. Six hundred fish caught from five river estuaries (producing 130 pooled samples) were analyzed to determine how different factors (such as the river, benthic, pelagic, and migratory species) influence EEDCs’ contamination and the possible impacts on human health following typical consumption patterns. The predominant EEDCs was diethyl phthalates (DEP), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalates (DEHP), and di-iso-nonylphthalate (DINP) in fish, present at 52.9 ± 77.3, 45.3 ± 79.8, and 42.5 ± 79.3 ng/g dry weight (d.w.), respectively. Residual levels of NP, BPA, and MPs in the fish were 17.4 ± 29.1 and 1.50 ± 2.20 ng/g d.w. and 0.185 ± 0.338 mg/g d.w., respectively. EEDCs and MPs levels varied widely among the five river estuaries sampled due, in part, to differences in habitat types and the associated diversity of fish species sampled. For DEP, the Lao-Jie River and pelagic environments produced the most severely contaminated fish species, respectively. DEP residues were also associated with the burden of MPs in the fish. Based on our analysis, we predict no substantial direct human health risk by EEDCs based on typical consumption rates of estuarine fish by the Taiwanese people. However, other sources of EEDC exposure cannot be ignored.

Emerging endocrine disruptors in two edible fish from the Persian Gulf: Occurrence, congener profile, and human health risk assessment

The occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been determined in two widely consumed fish species from Persian Gulf i.e., Epinephelus coioides and Platycephalus indicus by applying a validated analytical for the simultaneous detection of fourteen EDCs. The concentrations of all detected EDCs were greater in the liver than in the muscle (except for bisphenol A in P. indicus), suggesting a prolonged exposure of the fishes to these pollutants in the Persian Gulf. Specifically, the results showed that di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the compound detected most frequently and at the highest concentration in both species. DEHP levels in ranged from 6.68 to 297.48 μg g-dw^-1 and from 13.32 to 350.52 μg g-dw^-1, in muscle and in liver, respectively. A risk assessment study was conducted, and demonstrated that consuming two fish based- meals per week may result in a moderate risk especially for vulnerable population groups.

Occurrence of Free-Form and Conjugated Bisphenol Analogues in Marine Organisms

Upon exposure, most bisphenol analogues (BPs) are rapidly metabolized to BP conjugates in organisms. Monitoring studies on BPs in aquatic organisms have been mainly focused on free-form BPs. However, the relative amount of conjugated BPs in organisms is still not well known, especially in marine organisms. In this study, we collected marine organisms (13 species; n = 74), as well as seawater (n = 15), from East China Sea, and analyzed them for bisphenol A (BPA) and its eight analogues. In seawater, BPA was the predominant BP (mean ± standard deviation (SD), 18 ± 9.7 ng/L), followed by bisphenol S (BPS; 3.7 ± 2.8 ng/L), bisphenol F (BPF; 0.31 ± 0.17 ng/L), and bisphenol AF (BPAF; 0.24 ± 0.15 ng/L). The whole body of each marine organism was used for BP analysis in this study. BPA (mean 3.8 ng/g, range 1.2-7.7 ng/g) and BPS (1.5 ng/g, 0.19-6.1 ng/g) were still the predominant BPs in marine organisms without hydrolysis. After enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, mean concentrations of BPs increased 1.8 (BPS)-3.7 (BPA) times in marine organisms. Correspondingly, on average, 74, 52, 49, 48, and 45% of BPA, bisphenol Z, BPF, BPS, and BPAF were present in conjugated forms, respectively, in marine organisms. Moreover, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of BPs were evaluated using pooled marine organism samples. We first found that the mean log BAF values of BPs increased 0.091 (BPAF) to 0.31 (BPA) times in marine organisms after hydrolysis. Overall, this study first determines the amount of BPs present in conjugated forms in marine organisms, which are helpful for better understanding the occurrence of BPs in organisms.

Comparison of trace element concentrations in freshwater fish and marine fish consumed in Shandong Province, China, and their potential risks to human health

This study provides the primary data of ten trace element concentrations from four highly consumed cultured freshwater fish species in comparison to six marine fish collected from markets of the Shandong province, China, and evaluates the potential human health risks from consuming these fish. A significant difference in five metal concentrations (Cr, As, Se, Cd, Pb) was found between freshwater and marine fish. With the exception of chromium, the other four element contents in marine fish were higher than those in freshwater fish. According to estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), total target hazard quotient (TTHQ), and the permissible safety limits prescribed by various agencies, consumption of the examined fish species is safe for human health. However, chromium in freshwater fish and arsenic in marine fish should still be a cause for concern in terms of human health, especially for fisher folk communities and populations that frequently consume fish.

Xenobiotics Targeting Cardiolipin Metabolism to Promote Thrombosis in Zebrafish

Exposure to environmental pollutants is an important factor contributing to the development and severity of thrombosis. However, the important physiological molecules in the thrombotic processes affected by environmental exposures remain unknown. In this study, we show that exposure to environmental chemicals disrupts the equilibrium of cardiolipins (CLs), and directing CL synthesis promotes thrombosis. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach, approximately 3030 molecules were detected in zebrafish embryos exposed to 11 environmental chemicals and automatically clustered into a network. Interconnectivity among CLs and linoleates or isoxanthopterin was discovered through the highly consistent variations in the coregulated metabolites in the network. The chemical exposure resulted in significant upregulation of CLs through influencing the enzymatic activities of phospholipase A₂, cardiolipin synthase, and lysocardiolipin acyltransferase. Consequently, metabolic disorders of CLs affected the levels of anticardiolipin antibodies, disrupted the homeostasis between platelet thromboxane A₂ and endothelial prostacyclin, and promoted thrombotic events including heart ischemia and tachycardia. Our study thus reveals the common molecular mechanisms underlying the CL-induced thrombosis targeted by environmental exposures.

Bisphenol A and its analogues in sedimentary microplastics of Hong Kong

The occurrence and spatial distribution of bisphenol A (BPA) and analogues bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) were investigated in microplastic on 11 beaches in Hong Kong. At 10 sites, BPA was the only detected chemical with concentrations ranged from 82.4-989 ng g^-1 microplastic. BPA, BPB and BPS co-occurred at only one site, where it is located close proximity to the outfall of a sewage treatment plant. There was no significant spatial difference of BPA concentrations in microplastic when all the sites were considered, indicating that some remote and presumably cleaner beaches have been contaminated. PE, PP and PS (represented >90% of total polymers) were the most dominated polymers, but there was no correlation between polymer types and BPA concentrations. No evidence was found that the BPA and its analogues accumulate on microplastic since the concentrations were comparable to those found in the sediment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mullus surmuletus from the Catania Gulf (Sicily, Italy): distribution and potential health risks

Different specimens of Mullus surmuletus from the Catania Gulf (Sicily) were sampled and analysed for the quantification of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in order to evaluate the distribution of these pollutants and the potential human health risks associated to the consumption of fish. The determined PAHs concentration values ranged from 0.25 to 6.10 ng/g wet weight and the most abundant PAHs detected were lower molecular weight (LMW) compounds with 2 to 3 rings. Relying on the PAHs concentration values, on the consumption data and on the total toxic equivalent (TEQ), the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was assessed and its calculated value (2.97 × 10-7) is far below the "maximum acceptable risk level" (ARL), suggesting a low potential carcinogenic risk on consuming M. surmuletus for local population. Even though the study shows a quite low contamination level in M. surmuletus, intensive monitoring programmes are still highly needed in order to provide a better picture of the PAHs distribution in Catania Gulf and of the human health risk linked to fish consumption.

Contamination of stream fish by plastic waste in the Brazilian Amazon

Pollution by plastics is a global problem, in particular through the contamination of aquatic environments and biodiversity. Although plastic contamination is well documented in the aquatic fauna of the oceans and large rivers of the world, there are few data on the organisms of headwater streams, especially in tropical regions. In the present study, we evaluated the contamination of small fish by plastics in Amazonian streams. For this, we evaluated the shape and size, and the abundance of plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of 14 fish species from 12 streams in eastern Brazilian Amazon. We used a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) to compare the levels of contamination among species and between organs. Only one individual of the 68 evaluated (a small catfish Mastiglanis cf. asopos) contained no plastic particles, and no difference was found in the contamination of the gills and digestive tract. However, Hemigrammus unilineatus presented less contamination of both the gills and the digestive tract than the other species, while Polycentrus schomburgkii had less plastic in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas Crenicichla regani and Pimelodella gerii both had a larger quantity of plastic adhered to their gills in comparison with the other species. Nanoplastics and microplastics adhered most to the gills, while plastic fibers were the most common type of material overall. This is the first study to analyze plastic contamination in fish from Amazonian streams, and in addition to revealing high levels of contamination, some species were shown to possibly be more susceptible than others. This reinforces the need for further, more systematic research into the biological and behavioral factors that may contribute to the greater vulnerability of some fish species to contamination by plastics. Amazonian stream fish show contamination by plastics. The species respond differently. The smaller the particle, the easier it is to adhere to the gills.

Quercetin abrogates bisphenol A induced altered neurobehavioral response and oxidative stress in zebrafish by modulating brain antioxidant defence system

Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-recognized anthropogenic xenoestrogen, has been identified as a causative agent responsible for inducing carcinogenicity, cognitive impairment, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, etc. However, BPA-induced neurotoxicity and its possible amelioration through natural compound intervention remain elusive. The current study was performed to elucidate the neurotoxic potential of BPA in zebrafish (Danio rerio) by waterborne exposure and its possible amelioration by quercetin co-supplementation. Protective effect of quercetin against BPA-induced altered neurobehavioral response, oxidative stress and neuromorphological changes were evaluated in zebrafish brain. The present findings reveal that BPA-induced altered neurobehavioral response was ameliorated by quercetin. Biochemical studies advocate the potential therapeutic efficacy of quercetin against BPA-induced oxidative stress in zebrafish brain. Quercetin also shows neuroprotection against BPA-induced augmented neuronal pyknosis in periventricular grey zone (PGZ) of zebrafish brain. These basic findings indicate that quercetin may act as an effective intervention against BPA-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish through down-regulation of oxidative stress.

Multiple Xenosteroid Pollutants Biomarker Changes in Xultured Nile Tilapia Using Wastewater Effluents as Their Primary Water Source

Simple Summary

Estrogenic endocrine disruptive chemicals (E-EDCs) are important types of pollutants in fish farms worldwide and a globally concerned problem. In this study, Nile tilapia fish farms receiving wastewater effluents in Egypt were selected as highly, moderately polluted fish farms; besides, a putative control site was deemed low in contamination. Levels of E-EDCs (natural and synthetic steroids, and industrial phenolic compound/bisphenol A (BPA)) was recorded in farm water, and fish tissues at all sites under consideration, mainly, lower levels of testosterone, progesterone, zeranol, and 17β-estradiol were detected compared to the higher level of BPA. Moreover, the effects of these pollutants on fish biometric, reproductive genes, and hormonal biomarkers was evaluated along with the observed associated histopathological alterations. Our findings revealed the detection of some steroidal compounds with a higher level of the BPA. All analyzed biomarkers were reduced to a great extent in the highly polluted sites compared to others, and the histopathological alterations observed were supportive of other measurements. These observations warrant strict monitoring of aquatic pollution sources and the development of strategic plans to control aquaculture pollution.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to screen levels of xenosteroids (estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals/E-EDCs) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish farms subjected to water fill from the drain at three sites S1 (highly polluted), S2 (moderately polluted), and a putative reference site (RS). Biometric, hormonal, gene expression, and histopathological analysis were investigated. Testosterone, progesterone, and zeranol residues were detected at (0.12–3.44 µg/L) in water samples of different sites. Bisphenol-A (BPA) exhibited a very high concentration (6.5 µg/mL) in water samples from S1. Testosterone, 17β-estradiol residues were detected in fish tissues from all sites at (0.16–3.8 µg/Kg) and (1.05–5.01 µg/Kg), respectively. BPA residues were detected at a very high concentration in the liver and muscle of fish collected from S1 at higher levels of 25.9 and 48.07 µg/Kg, respectively. The detected E-EDCs, at different sites, particularly BPA, reduced the somatic and testicular growth among sites and oversampling time points. Meanwhile, hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly increased in S1 compared to S2. All analyzed genes estrogen receptor-type I (er-I, er-ɑ) and II (er-II, er-ß1), polypeptide 1a (cyp19a1), SRY-box containing gene 9 (sox9), and vitellogenin (vtg) and gonadotropin hormones (luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)), testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) were significantly expressed at S1 compared to other sites. Histopathology was more evident in S1 than other sites. These findings warrant immediate strategies development to control aquatic pollution and maintain fish welfare and aquaculture sustainability.

Distribution of Bisphenol A in Sediment and Suspended Matter and Its Possible Impact on Marine Life in Kaštela Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Over the last decade, bisphenol A (BPA) has become a chemical of concern in the marine environment. There is little data on BPA levels in the eastern Adriatic Sea, Croatian waters. This study provides concentrations of BPA in marine sediments and suspended matter sampled from the Kaštela Bay (the central part of the Adriatic Sea) for two years. The results obtained show that BPA in sediment samples ranged from 1.05 to 46.31 µg kg−1, while they were higher in the suspended matter, ranging from 1.84 to 81.39 µg kg−1. To demonstrate a possible correlation between BPA concentrations and other parameters in sediment and suspended matter, the granulometric composition and organic matter content were determined. There was no correlation between BPA and investigated sediment characteristics. To assess the possible effects of BPA on marine biota, its possible estrogenic effect was also investigated by calculating estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ, µg kg−1), the maximum value of which, in this study, was 0.0181 µg kg−1 in the sediment samples and 0.0317 µg kg−1 in suspended matter samples. Based on the presented results, it is unlikely that BPA could cause significant endocrine disruption to marine life in the study area.

Relationship between seafood consumption and bisphenol A exposure: the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS 2012-2014)

Background

This study aimed to identify the relationship between exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and seafood consumption using a nationally representative data of the general Korean population.

Methods

This study was conducted on 5,402 adults aged 19 years and older (2,488 men, 2,914 women) based on the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014). We stratified the data according to gender and analyzed urinary BPA concentrations in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior, dietary factor, and seafood consumption. In the high and low BPA exposure groups, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis according to the top 75th percentile concentration.

Results

In men, large fish and tuna and other seafood categories had significantly higher ORs before and after adjustment in the group who consumed seafood more than once a week than in the group who rarely consumed seafood, with an adjusted value of 1.97 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–3.48) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.10–2.75), respectively. In the shellfish category, the unadjusted OR was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.00–2.59), which was significantly higher in the group who consumed seafood more than once a week than in the group who rarely consumed seafood. However, the OR after adjusting for the variables was not statistically significant. In women, the frequency of seafood consumption and the concentration of urinary BPA were not significantly associated.

Conclusions

BPA concentration was higher in men who frequently consumed large fish and tuna, shellfish and other seafood in this study.

Occurrence, trophic transfer, and health risk assessment of bisphenol analogues in seafood from the Persian Gulf

The presence of chemicals in marine organisms is an important issue for human health due to the growing rate of seafood consumption. Potential exposure to seven bisphenol analogues through seafood consumption was investigated in some popular seafood from the Persian Gulf. Bisphenols were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol B (BPB) were the first and second most common bisphenols in the studied samples, respectively. The highest levels of BPA (mean 13.58 ± 5.70 μg/kg.dw) and BPB (mean 10.30 ± 7.98 μg/kg.dw) were found in E.coioides species. Bisphenol F and bisphenol AF were detected only in P. armatus and L. klunzingeri, respectively. Trophic transfer investigation demonstrated that BPA and BPB were biomagnified in the studied organisms through their diet. The eco-toxicity and estrogenic risk assessment indicated that seafood consumption does not pose a health threat to consumers. However, routine monitoring of bisphenols in seafood seems to be necessary to ensure food safety.

Emergent contaminants in sediments and fishes from the Tamsui River (Taiwan): Their spatial-temporal distribution and risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health

The occurrence of emergent contaminants, 24 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP), was investigated in sediments and fishes collected from the Tamsui River system to determine the factors that influence their distribution and their risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health. The concentrations of total PBDEs, DEHP, DBP, BBP, DEP, DMP, DnOP, BPA and NP in sediments were 1-955, ND-23570, <50-411, <50-430, ND-80, ND-<50, ND-<50, 1-144, 3-19624 μg/kg dw, respectively. The spatial-temporal distribution trends of these compounds in sediments could be attributed to urbanization, industrial discharge and effluents from wastewater treatment plants. The PBDE congener distribution patterns (BDE-209 was the dominant congener) in sediments reflected the occurrence of debromination of BDE-209 and the elution of penta-BDE from the treated products. The concentrations of total PBDEs, DEHP, DBP, BBP, DEP, DMP, DnOP, BPA and NP in fish muscles were 2-66, 17-1046, <10-231, <10-66, <30, ND-<30, ND-<30, 0.4-7 and 3-440 μg/kg ww, respectively. The species-specific bioaccumulation of these compounds by fish was found and four species particularly showed high bioaccumulation potential. BDE-47 was the predominant BDE congener in fish muscles, suggesting high bioavailability and bioaccumulation of this compound. The results of biota-sediment accumulation factors showed that BDE-47, 99, 100, 153 and 154 had relatively high bioavailability and bioaccumulation potential for some fish species. The ecological risk assessment showed that the concentrations of BPA and NP in sediments were likely to have adverse effects on aquatic organisms (risk quotients > 1). The human health risk assessment according to hazard quotients (HQs) and carcinogenic risks (CRs) revealed no remarkable risk to human health through consumption of fish contaminated with BDE-47, 99, 100, 154, 209, DEHP, BPA and NP.

Degradation of bisphenol A by the UV/H2O2 process: a kinetic study

A theoretical and experimental study of bisphenol A (BPA) degradation by the UV/H₂O₂ process in water is presented. The effects of the H₂O₂ concentration and the specific rate of photon emission (E_P,0) on BPA degradation were investigated. A kinetic model derived from a reaction sequence was employed to predict BPA and hydrogen peroxide concentrations over time using an annular photochemical reactor in batch recirculation mode. The local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA) inside the photoreactor was computed using a Line Source with Parallel Plane emission model (LSPP). From the proposed kinetic model and the experimental data, the second order rate constants of the reactions between hydroxyl radicals and the main reacting species (H₂O₂ and BPA) were estimated applying a nonlinear regression method. A good agreement between the kinetic model and experimental data, for a wide range of operating conditions, was obtained. For BPA, H₂O₂, and TOC concentrations, the calculated root means square errors (RMSE) were 2.3 × 10^- 2, 9.8 × 10^- 1, and 9.0 × 10^- 2 mmol L^- 1, respectively. The simplified kinetic model presented in this work can be directly applied to scaling-up and reactor design, since the estimated kinetic constants are independent of the reactor size, shape, and configuration. Further experiments were made by employing low BPA initial concentration (100 μg L^- 1) in water and real wastewater. A lower degradation rate of BPA was observed in the real wastewater, although the UV/H₂O₂ process has also been able to completely degrade the target pollutant in less than 1 h.

Suspect screening of plastic-related chemicals in northern pike (Esox lucius) from the St. Lawrence River, Canada

Environmental contaminant monitoring traditionally relies on targeted analysis, and very few tools are currently available to monitor "unexpected" or "unknown" compounds. In the present study, a non-targeted workflow (suspect screening) was developed to investigate plastic-related chemicals and other environmental contaminants in a top predator freshwater fish species, the northern pike, from the St. Lawrence River, Canada. Samples were extracted using sonication-assisted liquid extraction and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS). Ten bisphenol compounds were used to test the analytical performances of the method, and satisfactory results were obtained in terms of instrumental linearity (r² > 0.97), recoveries, (86.53-119.32%), inter-day precision and method detection limits. The non-targeted workflow data processing parameters were studied, and the peak height filters (peak filtering step) were found to influence significantly the capacity to detect and identify trace chemicals in pike muscle extracts. None of the ten bisphenol analogues were detected in pike extracts suggesting the absence of accumulation for these chemicals in pike muscle. However, the non-targeted workflow enabled the identification of diethyl phthalate (DEP) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in pike extracts. This approach thus can be also applied to various contaminants in other biological matrices and environmental samples.

A multi-residue method for GC-MS determination of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in fish and seafood from European and North African markets

An integrated study was conducted to determine the presence of six types of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, triclosan, two alkylphenols, two phenylphenols, eleven organophosphorus pesticides and seven parabens) in the fish and seafood samples from Europe and North Africa. The proposed method involves ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by continuous solid-phase extraction prior to GC-MS analysis. Analytical quality parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity and selectivity were all good. Limits of detections ranged from 0.5 to 20.0 ng/kg. The relative standard deviation was lower than 7.5% and recoveries ranged from 84 to 105%. The method was successfully used to determine the target analytes in 20 fish and seafood samples from different fish shops and supermarkets in Europe and North Africa. Analyte contents spanned the range 4.6-730 ng/kg and were all below the maximum legally allowed limits. EDCs most frequently found in the samples analysed were dichlorvos, 2-phenylphenol and nonylphenol.

Occurrence of selected endocrine disrupting compounds in Iberian coastal areas and assessment of the environmental risk

The spatial and temporal distribution of selected endocrine disrupting compounds (4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, nonylphenol, and bisphenol A) in two coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula (Ria de Vigo and Mar Menor lagoon) were evaluated for the first time. Seawater and sediment samples collected during spring and autumn of 2015 were analysed using greener extraction techniques and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The presence of branched isomers (4-tert-octylphenol and nonylphenol) and bisphenol A in almost all seawater and sediment samples demonstrated their importance as pollutants in the frame of water policy, while no concentrations of linear isomers (4-n-octylphenol and 4-n-nonylphenol) were found. Higher seawater levels were observed in Mar Menor lagoon, especially in spring, associated with wastewater treatment plant effluents and nautical, agricultural and industrial activities. Similar sediment concentrations were measured in both studied areas, being nonylphenol levels five times higher than those measured for the other EDCs. Experimental sediment-water partition coefficients showed a moderate sorption of target compounds to sediments. Risk quotients for water compartment evidenced a moderate risk posed by nonylphenol, considering the worst-case scenario. For sediments, moderate risk related to 4-tert-octylphenol and high risk to nonylphenol were estimated.

Occurrence and level of emerging organic contaminant in fish and mollusk from Klang River estuary, Malaysia and assessment on human health risk

The occurrence, level, and distribution of multiclass emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in fish and mollusks from the Klang River estuary were examined. The targeted EOCs for this assessment were phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (bisphenol A, 4-OP, and 4-NP), organophosphorous pesticides (quinalphos, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon), estrogenic hormones (E2, E1, and EE2), and pharmaceutically active chemicals (primidone, sulfamethoxazole, dexamethasone, diclofenac, amoxicillin, progesterone, and testosterone). Results from this study showed that the prevalent contamination of the Klang River estuary by EOCs with diclofenac, bisphenol A, progesterone, and amoxicillin were predominantly detected in fish and mollusks. Among the EOCs, diclofenac and progesterone had the highest concentrations in fish and mollusk samples, respectively. The concentrations of diclofenac and progesterone in fish and mollusk samples range from 1.42 ng/g to 10.76 ng/g and from 0.73 ng/g to 9.57 ng/g, respectively. Bisphenol A should also be highlighted because of its significant presence in both fish and mollusks. The concentration of bisphenol A in both matrices range from 0.92 ng/g to 5.79 ng/g. The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for diclofenac, bisphenol A, and progesterone without consideration to their degradation byproduct were less than one, thus suggesting that the consumption of fish and mollusks from the Klang River estuary will unlikely pose any health risk to consumers on the basis of the current assessment. Nonetheless, this preliminary result is an important finding for pollution studies in Malaysian tropical coastal ecosystems, particularly for organic micropollutant EOCs, and can serve as a baseline database for future reference.

Bioaccumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds in fish with different feeding habits along the largest subtropical river, China

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are becoming an increasing concern regarding bioaccumulation in aquatic biota. However, the effects of regional pollution levels and specific feeding habits on the bioaccumulation of EDCs in fish are rarely reported. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) were determined in abiotic compartments [water, sediment, suspended particulate matter (SPM)] and fish with different feeding habits along the Pearl River, China. EDCs in abiotic compartments exhibited significant (p < 0.05) spatial variations, forming five zones clustered based on site-specific EDC concentrations. 4-NP was the dominant compound, contributing 58-98% of the EDCs in fish, followed by BPA (<41%), 4-t-OP (<13%), and TCC and TCS (<4.7%). The concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP, BPA, and TCC and TCS were the highest in brackish carnivorous, planktivorous, and detritivorous fish, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) showed that 4-NP accumulated (BAF > 5000) in all fish except for suck-feeding detritivores, while 4-t-OP and TCC accumulated in filter-feeding planktivores. The concentration of 4-NP in carnivores was significantly higher than that in detritivores, indicating the potential biomagnification of 4-NP along food chains. EDCs in sediment and SPM and those in water were most positively correlated with those in detritivores and planktivores, respectively, suggesting the potential of fish with these two feeding habits to act as bioindicators of EDC pollutants.

An integrated modelling framework and a modified method for evaluating non-carcinogenic health risks from nonylphenol-contaminated food consumption in Long An, Vietnam

This study proposed an integrated modelling framework and a modified method for evaluating non-carcinogenic health risks from nonylphenol (NP)-contaminated food consumption. First, a fugacity-based multimedia model and a food web bioaccumulation model were adopted to predict the distribution of NP in the Can Giuoc river and the bioaccumulative concentrations in biota. Next, local people's exposure to NP was quantified using the accumulative concentrations and the data of fishery products intake from a questionnaire survey distributed among 203 local people. Then, human health risk was evaluated in terms of fishery products intake and intake frequency which were each derived from the same survey. The study revealed that human health risk would exist, although the obtained bioaccumulation factors for the consumed organisms were lower than the bioaccumulation criteria. Consuming 141 g or more per serving of riverine food products resulted in an average NP intake exceeding 0.005 mg/kg of body weight per day among 45-73% of the local adults, of whom pregnant women or young and potential mothers accounted for 10-21%. Seventy-nine percent was the highest rate of the population to be at risk under medium river flow rate when food-intake amount and intake frequency were taken into account. Ingesting 70 g per serving of more contaminated species, such as whiteleg shrimp and small fish, less frequently could lead to less risk exposure than ingesting 267 g per serving of less contaminated species, such as sand goby and climbing pearch, more frequently. By coupling food intake with intake frequency, the modified method enables the studying of human health risk from NP-contaminated food consumption to be conducted with more care, and so benefits risk communication at local level.

Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in raw and cooked seafood from European market: Concentrations and human exposure levels

Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals of emerging concern that can accumulate in seafood sold in markets. These compounds may represent a risk to consumers through effects on the human reproductive system, metabolic disorders, pathogenesis of breast cancer or development of microbial resistance. Measuring their levels in highly consumed seafood is important to assess the potential risks to human health. Besides, the effect of cooking on contaminant levels is relevant to investigate. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to study the presence and levels of PhACs and EDCs in commercially available seafood in the European Union market, to investigate the effect of cooking on contaminant levels, and to evaluate the dietary exposure of humans to these compounds through seafood consumption. A sampling survey of seafood from 11 European countries was undertaken. Twelve highly consumed seafood types were analysed raw and cooked with 3 analytical methods (65 samples, 195 analysis). PhACs were mostly not detectable or below quantification limits in seafood whereas EDCs were a recurrent group of contaminants quantified in the majority of the samples. Besides, cooking by steaming significantly increased their levels in seafood from 2 to 46-fold increase. Based on occurrence and levels, bisphenol A, methylparaben and triclosan were selected for performing a human exposure assessment and health risk characterisation through seafood consumption. The results indicate that the Spanish population has the highest exposure to the selected EDCs through seafood consumption, although the exposure via seafood remained below the current toxicological reference values.

Body size-dependent bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, and trophic and maternal transfer of phenolic endocrine-disrupting contaminants in a freshwater ecosystem

Parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, and triclocarban are recognized endocrine-disrupting contaminants (EDCs); and their occurrence in the environment has attracted increasing concern. Body size-dependent bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, trophic magnification, and maternal transfer of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparabens; 2-phenylphenol (PHP); BPA; triclosan; and triclocarban were investigated in freshwater fish of the Pearl River catchment, China. Most of the EDCs were detected in more than half of the biota samples, ranging from not detected to 6750 ng g^-1 lipid weight, with median concentrations of 5 to 72 ng g^-1 lipid weight. Livers generally contained the highest EDC levels (1609 ± 1860 ng g^-1 lipid wt, mean ± standard deviation), followed in decreasing order by eggs (842 ± 1317 ng g^-1 lipid wt), belly fats (488 ± 465 ng g^-1 lipid wt), and dorsal muscles (240 ± 239 ng g^-1 lipid wt) of the wildlife. Body size-dependent bioaccumulation of the EDCs was observed in the freshwater fish, which varied according to species, tissue, and compound. The concentrations of triclosan, PHP, and BPA usually showed decreasing trends, whereas parabens mostly demonstrated increasing tendency with increasing fish weights, indicating effects of growth dilution and bioaccumulation, respectively. Potential biomagnification was shown by triclosan with trophic magnification factors of 3.0, 4.3, and 4.0 in liver, belly fat, and dorsal muscle, respectively. In addition, the potential of maternal transfer in the fish was primarily revealed for methyl- and propylparabens, PHP, triclosan, and BPA. Presence of the EDCs in the freshwater organisms of the Pearl River catchment warrants more attention considering the potential of trophic magnification and maternal transfer. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1811-1823. © 2018 SETAC.

Dynamic Stocks and Flows Analysis of Bisphenol A (BPA) in China: 2000-2014

Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic organic chemical, is creating a new category of ecological and human health challenges due to unintended leakage. Effectively managing the use and leakage of BPA can benefit from an understanding of the anthropogenic BPA cycles (i.e., the size of BPA flows and stocks). In this work, we provide a dynamic analysis of the anthropogenic BPA cycles in China for 2000-2014. We find that China's BPA consumption has increased 10-fold since 2000, to ∼3 million tonnes/year. With the increasing consumption, China's in-use BPA stock has increased 500-fold to 14.0 million tonnes (i.e., 10.2 kg BPA/capita). It is unclear whether a saturation point has been reached, but in 2004-2014, China's in-use BPA stock has been increasing by 0.8 kg BPA/capita annually. Electronic products are the biggest contributor, responsible for roughly one-third of China's in-use BPA stock. Optical media (DVD/VCD/CDs) is the largest contributor to China's current End-of-Life (EoL) BPA flow, totaling 0.9 million tonnes/year. However, the EoL BPA flow due to e-waste will increase quickly, and will soon become the largest EoL BPA flow. The changing quantities and sources of EoL BPA flows may require a shift in the macroscopic BPA management strategies.

The measurement of bisphenol A and its analogues, perfluorinated compounds in twenty species of freshwater and marine fishes, a time-trend comparison and human health based assessment

Our previous study in 2011 reported the detection of BPA and PFAAs in 20 species of marine and freshwater fishes. With an emerging evidence to suggest the metabolic-disrupting effects of BPA/PFAAs in animals, the present study was aimed to provide a time-trend analysis to determine the current concentrations of PFAAs and BPA in 20 commercially available Hong Kong species of fishes. Since the manufacture and use of BPA is being prohibited in most nations, the introduction of BPA alternatives has recently been incorporated in the markets. Therefore, the concentrations of BPB, BPF and BPS were determined. In the present study, all freshwater and seawater fish samples showed quantified concentrations [>Limit of Quantification (LOQ<0.5ng/g)] of BPA. BPF was detected in some marine (yellow seafin, bigeye, goldspotted rabbitfish, snubnose pompano, tongue sole, Bleeker's grouper and orange-spotted grouper) and freshwater fishes (mud carp, crucian carp, tilapia, catfish, mandarin fish, grass carp, grey mullet and spotted snakehead). Two of the compounds, BPS and BPB could only be identified in the marine fishes (snubnose pompano, yellow seafin). In PFAA analysis, PFOA, PFDA, PFOS, PFUdA and PFDoA were found in most of the marine and freshwater fishes. PFOS and PFOA were shown to be the two predominant PFAAs in fishes. On the basis of the measured concentrations of bisphenols, BPs (BPA, BPB, BPF, BPS) and PFAAs, the average daily intake for BPs (20.5-31.5ng/kgb.w./day) and PFAAs (1.17-1.83ng/kgb.w./day) were calculated and found to be lower than values of tolerable daily intake (TDI) established in Europe. However, as compared with our previous study in 2011, the present study revealed an approximate 10-fold increase in the concentrations of BPA in the fish samples. Although the hazard ratio of consuming fishes for BPA and PFAA exposure is expected to remain low, possible additive metabolic-disrupting effect of BPA and its analogues as well PFAAs should be taken into consideration for human health risk assessment.

Biomonitoring of chemicals in biota of two wetland protected areas exposed to different levels of environmental impact: results of the "PREVIENI" project

The PREVIENI project (funded by the Ministry of Environment) investigated the exposure to endocrine disrupters in samples of human population and environmental biota in Italy. The environmental biomonitoring considered two Italian WWF Oasis, with the aim to compare the presence and effects of endocrine disruptors in organisms from two protected natural areas, respectively, upstream and downstream a chemical emission site. Chemical analysis of pollutants' tissue levels was made on tissues from earthworm, barbell, trout, and coot, selected as bioindicator organisms. The contaminants considered were as follows: the perfluorinated compounds perfuoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs 58 congeners), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, 13 congeners), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, 16 compounds), toxic trace elements, the phthalate di-2-ethylexyl phthalate (DEHP) and its primary metabolite, bisphenol A, synthetic musk compounds (musk xylene, musk ketone, tonalide, and galaxolide), and p-nonylphenol. The analyses showed low concentrations of most pollutants in all species from both areas, compared to available literature; noticeable exceptions were the increases of DEHP's primary metabolite, PBDE, PAHs, Hg, and Pb in barbells, and of PCB and Cd in earthworms from the downstream area. The results showed the presence of endocrine disruptors, including those considered as "non-persistent," in bioindicators from protected areas, albeit at low levels. The results provide a contribution to the evaluation of reference values in biota from Mediterranean Europe and support the relevance of monitoring exposure to pollutants, in particular for freshwater environment, also in protected areas.

Inter-Sectoral Bisphenol A (BPA) Flows in the 2012 Chinese Economy

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used petrochemical compound, has become an emerging global environmental management challenge because its leakage is associated with potential environmental and human health impacts. Until now, available BPA statistics have been limited to the products that directly use BPA. In this study, we delineate direct and indirect BPA flows for the 2012 Chinese economy. We find that construction, production of educational and recreational products, and automobile manufacturing are the most BPA-intensive sectors in terms of total BPA flows (300, 157, and 130 Gg total BPA flows, respectively). The public management and health sectors, however, incur significant indirect BPA flows, defined as embedded and inter-sectoral BPA placed into use, even though direct BPA use by these sectors is limited. By revealing the currently overlooked indirect BPA flows, this study reveals data gaps that are highly relevant to improving the accuracy of estimated BPA flows and losses. The method used herein is transferrable to other emerging and environmentally relevant materials, thereby providing the holistic understanding needed for cities, regions, or nations to design effective policy interventions.

Potential health risks posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in muscle tissues of fishes from the Athabasca and Slave Rivers, Canada

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are released to the environment from oil sands operations and from natural sources in Alberta, Canada. Concentrations of 16 USEPA priority PAHs were measured in tissues of fishes collected from three locations on the Athabasca River in Alberta and two downstream locations on the Slave River in the Northwest Territories, Canada. A total of 425 individual fish were collected including 89 goldeye (Hiodon alosoides), 93 whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), 104 northern pike/jackfish (Esox lucius), 96 walleye (Sander vitreus) and 43 burbot/loche mariah/mariah (Lota lota). Fish were sampled during the summer and fall of 2011 and spring of 2012. Dorsal muscle of fishes from upstream reaches of the Athabasca River, close to oil sands extraction and upgrading activities, contained greater concentrations of individual PAHs than concentrations in muscle of fishes from further downstream in the Slave River. Concentrations of the sum of USEPA indicator PAHs (∑PAHs) in fishes collected in the vicinity of Fort McKay, closest to oil sands activities, varied among seasons with average concentrations ranging from 11 (burbot, summer) to 1.2 × 10² ng/g, wm (burbot, spring) with a mean of 48 ng/g, wm. Concentrations of ∑PAHs in fishes collected in the vicinity of Fort Resolution, the location most distant from oil sands activities, also varied among species and seasons, with average concentrations ranging from 4.3 (whitefish, summer) to 33 ng/g, wm (goldeye, summer) with a mean of 13 ng/g, wm. Significant differences in concentrations of ∑PAHs in muscle were observed within goldeye, jackfish, walleye and whitefish among sites. Health risks posed by PAHs to humans were assessed probabilistically using a B[a]P equivalents approach (B[a]P_eq). The average lifetime risk of additional cancers for humans who consumed fish was deemed to be within an 'acceptable' range of risk (i.e., less than 10^-6).

Residual levels of rare earth elements in freshwater and marine fish and their health risk assessment from Shandong, China

The total concentrations of rare earth elements (ΣREE) were quantified in 251 samples from 10 common species of freshwater and marine fish in seventeen cities of Shandong, China. ΣREE obtained from the freshwater fish ranged from 34.0 to 37.9ngg(-1) (wet weight) and marine fish from 12.7 to 37.6ngg(-1). The ratio of LREE to HREE was 13.7:1 and 10:1 for freshwater and marine fish, respectively. This suggests that freshwater fish exhibit greater REE concentrations than marine fish and the biological effects of LREE are higher than HREE. Results revealed a similar REE distribution pattern between those fish and coastal sediments, abiding the "abundance law". The health risk assessment demonstrated the EDIs of REEs in fish were significantly lower than the ADI, indicating that the consumption of these fish presents little risk to human health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs in the coastal seawater, surface sediment and oyster from Dalian, Northeast China

A total of 46 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, 21 parent and 25 alkylated) were determined in seawater, surface sediment and oyster from coastal area of Dalian, North China. The concentration of Σ46PAHs in seawater, sediment, and oyster were 136-621 ng/L, 172-4700 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 60.0-129 ng/g wet weight (ww) in winter, and 65.0-1130 ng/L, 71.1-1090 ng/g dw and 72.8-216 ng/g ww in summer, respectively. High PAH levels were found in industrial area both in winter and summer. Selected PAH levels in sediments were compared with Sediments Quality Guidelines (ERM-ERL, TEL-PEL indexes) for evaluation probable toxic effects on marine organism and the results indicate that surface sediment from all sampling sites have a low to medium ecotoxicological risk. Daily intake of PAHs via oyster as seafood by humans were estimated and the results indicated that oyster intake would not pose a health risk to humans even 30 days after a oil spill accident near by. Water-sediment exchange analysis showed that, both in winter and summer, the fluxes for most high molecular weight PAHs were from seawater to sediment, while for low molecular weight PAHs, an equilibrium was reached between seawater and sediment.

Bisphenol A in Edible Part of Seafood

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made compound, mainly used as a monomer to produce polycarbonate (PC), epoxy resins, non-polymer additives to other plastics, which have many food related applications, such as food storage containers, tableware and internal coating of cans, as well as non-food applications such as electronic equipment, construction materials and medical devices. BPA exposure can occur when the residual monomer migrates into packaged food and beverages. Moreover, due to the ubiquitous presence of this compound, the general population can be exposed to environmental sources such as water, air and soil. Many studies have investigated the potential health hazards associated with BPA, which can elicit toxic and cancerogenic effects on humans. According to the European Food Safety Authority opinion, diet is considered to be the main source of exposure, especially canned food; moreover, among non-canned food, meat and fish products have the highest levels of BPA contamination. This review focuses on BPA contamination in seafood, analysing worldwide literature (from January 2010 to October 2015) on BPA contamination of edible parts. The authors try to identify differences between canned and non-canned seafood in literature, and gaps in the state of art. The data evaluated underline that all concentrations for both canned and non-canned seafood were below the specific migration limit set by the European Community Directive for BPA in food. Moreover, the canned seafood is more contaminated than the non-canned one.

Characteristics of the alkylphenol and bisphenol A distributions in marine organisms and implications for human health: A case study of the East China Sea

The distributions of alkylphenol (AP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in marine organisms, including fish, prawns and molluscs, could reflect the exposure of AP and BPA directly and effectively. This paper provides the first report on the species-dependent distribution and the human health risks of four APs (4-t-octylphenol, 4-t-OP; 4-octylphenol, 4-OP;4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; 4-n-nonylphenol, 4-n-NP) and BPA in 95 wild and 88 processed marine biota samples from the East China Sea of the Yangtze River Delta area. 4-NP was the predominant compound with the highest detected concentration of 19,890.50ng/g ww. Significant pollution was observed in Taizhou, Shanghai and Ningbo. The species-dependent distribution was related to food habits, living patterns and trophic transfer. Higher residual concentrations of 4-t-OP, 4-OP, 4-n-NP and BPA were observed in fish species that consumed benthic organisms or demersal fish species, whereas 4-NP showed different results due to trophic dilution. The trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of the linear APs (4-OP and 4-n-NP) (1.22-2.93) were higher than those of the branched ones (4-t-OP and 4-NP) (0.72-0.90), indicating the relative metabolism stability of linear APs. 4-NP has the lowest TMF value of 0.72, and its trophic dilution might be observed because the branched carbon chain exhibits the lowest dispersion force compared to that of the other APs. As for the health risk, 7-year old children may be exposed to the highest health risk of 4-NP with 95th percentile values of the hazard quotient of 0.22 to 0.23; however, the risks of the other chemicals were relatively low.