Ecological changes as a plausible explanation for differences in uptake of contaminants between European perch and eelpout in a coastal area of the Baltic Sea

Unexpected increasing trends in the concentration of contaminants in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and in activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) in European perch and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) have been observed at a Swedish coastal reference site. This study uses data from different sources to investigate plausible explanations. The results showed that a change in diet and an improved overall condition coincide with an increase in mercury in European perch. Furthermore, an increase in several organic contaminants in European perch coincided with the introduction of an invasive deep-burrowing polychaete, which likely contributed to the release of contaminants through bioturbation. The increase in EROD-activity in both species seems to be related to contaminants that reach the fish through the water rather than the diet. The results show that for contaminants that are taken up via the diet, trends in contamination can be opposite for different species of fish in the same area.

Environmental risk assessment in five rivers of Parana River basin, Southern Brazil, through biomarkers in Astyanax spp

In the current study, water quality of five river sites in Parana River basin (Brazil), utilized for public water supply, was assessed through a set of biomarkers in fish Astyanax spp. Population growth and inadequate use of land are challenges to the preservation of biodiversity and resources such as water. Some physicochemical parameters as well as somatic indexes, gills and liver histopathology, genotoxicity, and biochemical biomarkers were evaluated. The highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) and antioxidant parameters (catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities, non-protein thiols), as well as the lowest damage to biomolecules (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, DNA damage) were observed in site 0 (Piava River), which is located at an environmental protected area. Site 1, located in the same river, but downstream site 0 and outside the protection area, presents some level of impact. Fish from site 2 (Antas River), which lack of riparian forest and suffer from silting, presented the highest micronucleus incidence and no melanomacrophages. Differently, individuals from site 3 (Xambrê River) and site 4 (Pinhalzinho River) which receive surface runoff from Umuarama city, urban and industrial sewage, have the highest incidences of liver and gill histopathological alterations, including neoplasia, which indicated the worst health conditions of all sites. In particular, site 4 had high levels of total nitrogen and ammonia, high turbidity, and very low oxygen levels, which indicate important chemical impact. Comparison of the biomarkers in fish allowed classification of the five sites in terms of environmental impact and revealed that sites 3 and 4 had particular poor water quality.

Bioavailability of pollutants sets risk of exposure to biota and human population in reservoirs from Iguaçu River (Southern Brazil)

The Iguaçu River, located at the Southern part of Brazil, has a great socioeconomic and environmental importance due to its high endemic fish fauna and its potential to generate hydroelectric power. However, Iguaçu River suffers intense discharge of pollutants in the origin of the river. In a previous report, the local environmental agency described water quality to improve along the river course. However, no study with integrated evaluation of chemical analysis and biological responses has been reported so far for the Iguaçu River. In the current study, three different Brazilian fish species (Astyanax bifasciatus, Chrenicicla iguassuensis, and Geophagus brasiliensis) were captured in the five cascading reservoirs of Iguaçu River for a multi-biomarker study. Chemical analysis in water, sediment, and muscle indicated high levels of bioavailable metals in all reservoirs. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in the bile of the three fish species. Integration of the data through a FA/PCA analysis demonstrated the poorest environmental quality of the reservoir farthest from river's source, which is the opposite of what has been reported by the environmental agency. The presence of hazardous chemicals in the five reservoirs of Iguaçu River, their bioaccumulation in the muscle of fish, and the biological responses showed the impacts of human activities to this area and did not confirm a gradient of pollution between the five reservoirs, from the source toward Iguaçu River's mouth. Therefore, diffuse source of pollutants present along the river course are increasing the risk of exposure to biota and human populations.

PAH biomarkers in common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from Danish waters

Eelpouts (Zoarces viviparus) sampled at surveillance stations during the fall of 2007 and spring 2008 in different Danish coastal areas, were studied for biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and effects. Two analytical techniques, synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (SFS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/F), were applied for detecting PAH metabolites in bile and urine. CYP1A activity, in this study regarded as potential biomarker of effect, was measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in liver of eelpouts from different stations. Biliary PAH metabolite measurements were used for monitoring the environmental PAH load at the surveillance stations. There was found significant difference in biliary PAH metabolite content between sexes with male fish containing higher concentrations of PAH metabolites than females. The urinary PAH metabolite content did not show the same spatial trends as biliary PAH metabolites. However, fish from Aarhus Bight and Vejle Fjord had significantly higher levels of PAH metabolites in both urine and bile compared to the reference station Agersø. Normalisation methods applied for bile and urine matrices did not have any effect or only slightly reduced the coefficients of variation in data sets. The CYP1A activity in eelpout liver did not show the same spatial distribution trends between sampling sites as did biliary or urinary PAH metabolite contents. Male eelpouts showed significantly higher CYP1A activity than females in fall sampling period but there were no differences found in the spring period. General comparison between both seasons showed that eelpouts sampled in the fall had significantly higher CYP1A activity than fish sampled during spring season. Overall, the results of this study describe selected biomarker responses in eelpouts to environmental PAH load at the different areas along Danish coasts.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hydroxylated metabolites in the muscle tissue of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) through dietary exposure during a 56-day period

Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) was exposed trophically to phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. Accumulation kinetics in the muscle tissue of parent PAHs and hydroxylated metabolites were established for 56 days at 3 levels of exposure (0, 100 and 500 μg/kg BW). Benzo[a]pyrene and 3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene were not detected in the muscles. During exposure, there was an increase in phenanthrene, pyrene and their hydroxylated metabolites in the muscle tissue. Low transfer to muscle tissue was observed at equilibrium for phenanthrene (4.4±0.6% and 2.7±0.8%) and pyrene (1.0±0.2% and 0.33±0.09%), depending on the concentrations in the spiked feed.

Spatial and annual variation to define the normal range of biological endpoints: an example with biomarkers in perch

A signal from a biological endpoint can be considered evidence of environmental impact only if it is known that similar signals are unlikely to occur naturally. Using multiple reference sites, the normal range can be estimated. This can be defined as the span that includes 95% of the reference sites. If an investigated site is outside this range, it is interpreted as evidence of impact. The choice of reference sites is thus important for the outcome of the study. Here, biomarker levels in perch (Perca fluviatilis) at a potentially impacted site were compared to different types of reference data. The potentially impacted site was located close to a densely populated area. Four reference sites were located in relatively undisturbed areas on the Swedish Baltic coast. Furthermore, historical data from one of the reference sites were included. The present study showed that multiple reference sites are needed to avoid the risk of interpreting natural variation as impact. The number of reference sites needed depends on the desired level of statistical power. An alternative to multiple reference sites may be to use historical data to estimate the natural variation. However, historical data can include temporal variation due to factors that may not be relevant for the hypothesis that is tested, e.g., climatic variation or changed background levels of pollution.

Analytical methods for determining metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollutants in fish bile: A review

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites in bile can serve as a tool for assessing environmental PAH exposure in fish. Biliary PAH metabolite levels can be measured using several analytical methods, including simple fluorescence assays (fixed fluorescence detection or synchronous fluorescence spectrometry); high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-F); gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after deconjugation, extraction and derivatization of the bile sample, and finally by advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) methods. The method alternatives are highly different both with regard to their analytical performance towards different PAH metabolite structures as well as in general technical demands and their suitability for different monitoring strategies. In the present review, the state-of-the-art for these different analytical methods is presented and the advantages and limitations of each approach as well as aspects related to analytical quality control and inter-laboratory comparability of data and availability of certified reference materials are discussed.

Induction patterns of new CYP1 genes in environmentally exposed rainbow trout

The cytochrome P4501 (CYP1) gene family comprises four subfamilies in fish: CYP1A, CYP1B, CYP1C, and CYP1D. Only two CYP1 genes, CYP1A1 and CYP1A3, are so far known in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The present study aimed to identify other CYP1 subfamily genes in rainbow trout, to establish methods for quantitative mRNA expression analysis of these genes, and to determine their basal and induced mRNA expression in gills and liver. Another goal was to examine their mRNA expression in environmentally exposed fish. We cloned four new transcripts, denoted rbCYP1B1, rbCYP1C1, rbCYP1C2, and rbCYP1C3. Levels of these and the previously known rbCYP1A transcripts were determined by real-time PCR in unexposed fish, fish exposed to the potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), and fish caged in various waters in the Uppsala region (Sweden). The mRNA expression patterns observed in unexposed rainbow trout (basal levels) were markedly similar to those reported for orthologous genes in other species. All six transcripts were induced by PCB126 in gills and liver, suggesting all genes to be AhR regulated. The caged fish showed clear rbCYP1 induction in gills at all monitoring sites (up to 70-fold the basal level), whereas the liver responses were weak; induction (up to 5-fold) was recorded only at the Uppsala municipal sewage treatment plant outlet. Gill filament EROD activity was induced at all caging sites. Most interestingly, the rbCYP1 gene response patterns in gills differed among caging sites and among subfamilies. The EROD induction seemed to only reflect induction of rbCYP1A transcription. Response patterns of multiple CYP1 genes in gills and liver could provide an improved monitoring strategy. Such patterns could be used to characterize complex mixtures of AhR agonists and antagonists in aquatic environments.