Phthalates and perfluorinated alkylated substances in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) specimens from Mediterranean Sea (Sardinia, Italy): Levels and risks for human consumption

Abstract

Atlantic blue fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a species of great importance for Mediterranean Sea area, from both ecological and commercial points of view. The scientific literature reports few data on the contamination of this fish by emerging organic compounds such as perfluorinated alkylated substances(PFASs) and phthalates, being the latter never been studied in tuna. This study therefore investigated the presence of the PFASs perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) and the phthalate di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), also monitored by its metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(MEHP), to assess both the state of contamination of Atlantic bluefin tuna specimen and the risk due to the toxicity of these compounds for human consumption. While PFOA was never found, detectable levels of PFOS (0.4-1.88 ng/g), DEHP (9-14.62 ng/g) and MEHP (1.5-6.30 ng/g) were found. The results were elaborated relating the accumulation to the size and age of the individuals and showed a correlation between the levels of different pollutants investigated.

Biomarkers of Exposure to Chemical Contamination in the Commercial Fish Species Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788): A Particular Focus on Plastic Additives

“…Indeed, DEHP and MEHP concentration were reported in ranges of 9–14.62 ng/g and 1.5–6.30 ng/g, respectively. Instead, according to our data, BPA concentrations in fishes varied from 2 to 75 ng/g in the liver and 1–11 ng/g in the muscle (Belfroid et al, 2002; Fossi et al, 2012; Valton et al, 2014; Guerranti et al, 2016). Probably, the low concentration or absence of contaminants in muscle, gonad and liver could be explained by the strong conversion of these substances to their metabolites after their assimilation (Sackett et al, 2013; Chattopadhyay and Chattopadhyay, 2015).…”

Sentinels of synthetics – a comparison of phthalate exposure between common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and human reference populations

“…Marine and aquatic organisms may be exposed through inhalation or ingestion of phthalate-contaminated air, water, sediment, and prey, as well as ingestion of plastic [24][25][26][27]. Studies of phthalate exposure have been widespread among marine and aquatic fauna, including the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena; [28]), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus; [26,29]), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus; [29]), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba; [29]), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) [29,30], Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; [31]), basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus; [26]), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis; [32]), European eel (Anguilla anguilla; [33]), as well as crustacean, mollusc, and fish species [27,34]. These studies have detected phthalate parent compounds and/or metabolites in a variety of matrices (e.g., skin, blubber, muscle, urine), with variable concentrations reported within and across species (Table 1).…”

Tetrabromobisphenol A inhibits carboxylesterase activity of marine organisms from different trophic levels

“…Our findings also leaves open the question of whether TBBPA-exposed organisms would be more sensitive to other xenobiotics that require CE-mediated hydrolysis for their detoxification. In particular, the inhibitory action of TBBPA could compromise the metabolism of other plasticizers such as phthalates, contaminants seen to accumulate also in large predators such as tuna fish (Guerranti et al, 2016) and that are transformed to their mono-derivatives by the hydrolytic action of CEs (Ozaki et al, 2017). Thus, the interaction of TBBPA with CE activity may cause indirect toxicity (via xenobiotic metabolism) or even alter physiological processes mediated also by CEs (lipid metabolism) in aquatic wildlife, shellfish and humans as final consumers.…”