Assessment of the toxic potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affecting Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) harvested from waters impacted by the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystem-level injury in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Much oil spread at 1100-1300m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Factors such as oil-biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures (dispersants, burning) reduced coastal oiling. Still, >2100km of shoreline and many coastal habitats were affected. Research demonstrates that oiling caused a wide range of biological effects, although worst-case impact scenarios did not materialize. Biomarkers in individual organisms were more informative about oiling stress than population and community indices. Salt marshes and seabird populations were hard hit, but were also quite resilient to oiling effects. Monitoring demonstrated little contamination of seafood. Certain impacts are still understudied, such as effects on seagrass communities. Concerns of long-term impacts remain for large fish species, deep-sea corals, sea turtles and cetaceans. These species and their habitats should continue to receive attention (monitoring and research) for years to come.

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“…(3.2-4.1 ng/g) assessed in whole fish samples, while BaP carcinogenic equivalents declined from 75.4 to 1.7 ng/g (Olson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Fish In Coastal Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A review

Beyer

Trannum

Bakke

et al. 2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

586

243

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“…Although PAHs comprise a small compositional percentage of crude oil, they are considered the most toxic component mainly because of their metabolites [3]. The toxic potential of PAHs, in general, and specifically from the Deepwater Horizon-impacted waters, have been well documented in fish displaying numerous adverse acute and chronic effects, including skin lesions, cardiotoxicity, liver abnormalities, respiration changes, reduced fecundity, histopathological changes, and mortality [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Naphthalene and phenanthrene, the 2 most abundant PAH parent compounds measured in the Deepwater Horizon crude oil, have both been shown to be acutely toxic in fish at concentrations ranging from 0.51 to 7.9 mg/L and 0.23 to 1.15 mg/L, respectively [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species‐specific metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene in 3 species of marine teleosts exposed to Deepwater Horizon crude oil

Pulster

Main

Wetzel

et al. 2017

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The 2 most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured in Deepwater Horizon crude oil, naphthalene and phenanthrene, and their associated homologs have both been shown to be acutely toxic in fish. Although fish have a relatively high metabolic capacity for PAHs, hydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) derivatives formed during the initial metabolic response can negatively impact the health of fish. Species-specific metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene was evaluated in 3 marine teleosts, red drum (Scianops ocellatus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), and southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). Fish were exposed to Deepwater Horizon crude oil by intraperitoneal injections at time 0 and 48 h, with bile sampling events at 24 and 72 h post injection. The data suggested metabolic induction in Florida pompano and red drum, whereas southern flounder may have demonstrated metabolic fatigue. By 24 h post injection, overall profiles of red drum and southern flounder were dominated by hydroxylated phenanthrene metabolites; conversely, the Florida pompano profiles were dominated by monohydroxylated naphthalenes. In addition, Florida pompano had faster overall relative biotransformation rates, suggesting their potential decreased susceptibility to adverse effects. Red drum and southern flounder had much lower relative biotransformation rates, indicating their probable susceptibility to adverse outcomes after naphthalene and phenanthrene exposures. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate monohydroxylated PAHs in fish exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil.

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“…Oil spills from a variety of sources can contaminate freshwater systems, thereby affecting the local biota (189). Major toxic components of oils, such as napthenic acid (NA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are dispersed within water-soluble fractions after a spill (190, 191). NA and PAHs act as EDCs in amphibians.…”

Section: Complex Mixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminant and Environmental Influences on Thyroid Hormone Action in Amphibian Metamorphosis

et al. 2019

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Aquatic and terrestrial environments are increasingly contaminated by anthropogenic sources that include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial and agricultural chemicals (i. e., pesticides). Many of these substances have the potential to disrupt endocrine function, yet their effect on thyroid hormone (TH) action has garnered relatively little attention. Anuran postembryonic metamorphosis is strictly dependent on TH and perturbation of this process can serve as a sensitive barometer for the detection and mechanistic elucidation of TH disrupting activities of chemical contaminants and their complex mixtures. The ecological threats posed by these contaminants are further exacerbated by changing environmental conditions such as temperature, photoperiod, pond drying, food restriction, and ultraviolet radiation. We review the current knowledge of several chemical and environmental factors that disrupt TH-dependent metamorphosis in amphibian tadpoles as assessed by morphological, thyroid histology, behavioral, and molecular endpoints. Although the molecular mechanisms for TH disruption have yet to be determined for many chemical and environmental factors, several affect TH synthesis, transport or metabolism with subsequent downstream effects. As molecular dysfunction typically precedes phenotypic or histological pathologies, sensitive assays that detect changes in transcript, protein, or metabolite abundance are indispensable for the timely detection of TH disruption. The emergence and application of ‘omics techniques—genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics—on metamorphosing tadpoles are powerful emerging assets for the rapid, proxy assessment of toxicant or environmental damage for all vertebrates including humans. Moreover, these highly informative ‘omics techniques will complement morphological, behavioral, and histological assessments, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of how TH-dependent signal disruption is propagated by environmental contaminants and factors.

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Assessment of the toxic potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affecting Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) harvested from waters impacted by the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill

Cited by 35 publications

References 15 publications

Environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A review

Environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A review

Species‐specific metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene in 3 species of marine teleosts exposed to Deepwater Horizon crude oil

Contaminant and Environmental Influences on Thyroid Hormone Action in Amphibian Metamorphosis

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