Bisphenol A, 4-tert-Octylphenol, and 4-Nonylphenol in The Gulf of Gdańsk (Southern Baltic)

Abstract

The organic derivatives of phenol are classed as dangerous compounds, and their presence has been detected in surface water, bottom water, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and mussel as well as liver and muscle of fish from the Gulf of Gdańsk and in liver, muscle, and guano of gulls residing in the coastal zone of this basin. The greatest sources of bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), and 4-nonylphenol (NP) were found to be the Vistula River and the water purification plant in Dębogórze. In living organisms, concentrations of BPA, OP, and NP ranged between the limit of quantification and several hundred ng g−1 dry weight (dw), and the highest concentrations were found for BPA. Prolonged alimentary exposure to BPA, OP, and NP in fish and birds was indicated by liver/muscle concentration ratios generally >1. The most influential factors on BPA and alkylphenol concentrations in the tissues of fishes and gulls were mainly diet and habitat. The study confirmed possible bioaccumulation in the food web. High BPA and NP concentrations in guano (≤2,700 and ≤300 ng g−1 dw, respectively) indicated the ability of birds to detoxify and signalled the reintroduction of these compounds to seawater. Herring, flounder, and cod from the Southern Baltic are a safe food source for human consumption because their BPA and alkylphenol contents are low.

Sex-related differences in steroid concentrations in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis trossulus) from the southern Baltic Sea

“…Lately, Staniszewska et al (2014) described the occurrence of well-known endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) in water, sediments, and biota of the Gulf of Gdańsk, Poland. Values of BPA, OP, and NP in mussel tissues reached 19 ng/g d.w. for females and 6.9 ng/g d.w. for maleslevels which can already disrupt hormonal homeostasis (Staniszewska et al, 2014).…”

“…Values of BPA, OP, and NP in mussel tissues reached 19 ng/g d.w. for females and 6.9 ng/g d.w. for maleslevels which can already disrupt hormonal homeostasis (Staniszewska et al, 2014). Also, some water parameters, such as low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, may contribute to hormonal perturbations by inhibiting cytochrome P450 aromatase activity (Morcillo and Porte, 2000).…”

Monitoring of bisphenols in canned tuna from Italian markets

“…Therefore, plastic fragments ingested by fishes can represent another contamination source from BPA along the food chain. As further consequence, bisphenol presence in canned fish may occur apart from packaging migration (Mita et al, 2011;Wei et al, 2011;Staniszewska et al, 2014). It is widely recognized that canned tuna is one of the most widespread fish commodities in the world.…”

The relationship between the black carbon and bisphenol A in sea and river sediments (Southern Baltic)

“…The few available studies prove that despite the lowest production and use of bisphenol A of the European countries, this compound is present in the drainage area of the Baltic Sea in concentrations reaching up to several μg/(kg dry weight (dw)) in plankton organisms, mussels, fish (herring, perch and flounder), and gulls (HELCOM, 2010;Staniszewska et al, 2014). The omnipresence of this compound in the environment of the Baltic Sea represents a potential problem.…”