Distribution and human health risk assessment of PAHs in four fish species from a SW Atlantic estuary

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess-for the first time-the concentration of the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the muscle tissues of four fish species (Micropogonias furnieri, Cynoscion guatucupa, Ramnogaster arcuata, and Mustelus schmitti) from Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina and to evaluate their sources, distribution, and the human health risks implicated. Considering the four species under study, mean total PAH concentrations showed the following decreasing accumulation trend: M. schmitti, R. arcuata, C. guatucupa, and M. furnieri. Low molecular weight PAHs, such as naphthalene and phenanthrene, were generally predominant, displaying properties of PAH mixtures generated from petrogenic pollution. Of the four fish species analyzed, M. furnieri was the only one that did not raise any human consumption warning. In the case of the other species, exceeding values were found above the safety human consumption guidelines. Nevertheless, the screening criteria for carcinogenic PAHs proposed by the USEPA indicated a good quality status for these fish species.

Aquaculture Contributes a Higher Proportion to Children's Daily Intake of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Than to That of Adults in Eastern China

“…Higher concentrations of ∑cPAHs were found in fish at high trophic levels, such as snakeheads and sturgeons, wileyonlinelibrary.com/ETC © 2019 SETAC Contribution of PAHs via aquaculture product consumption-Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2019;38:1084-1092 indicating different dietary compositions compared with crab, prawn, and shellfish. The ∑cPAH concentrations in the present study were higher than those in fish from an Atlantic estuary (0.90-84 ng/g dry wt) investigated by Oliva et al (2017) and from the remote upstream area of the Yangtze River (1.2-2.4 ng/g dry wt) measured by Wang et al (2016).…”

Toxicities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Aquatic Animals

“…For example, fish are considered to have a higher metabolism capacity and can metabolize/depure PAHs quickly; therefore, a generally positive correlation between the concentration of PAHs in the body and the K ow value is not observed in higher trophic-level fish [134]. Additionally, several previous studies suggested that species differences in the metabolism capacity of PAHs are strongly suggested for fish and invertebrates [138][139][140]. These differences may be caused by species differences in intake pathway and efficiency, capacity of xebiotics to metabolize, and ability of depuration/excretion.…”

“…For example, Cheung et al [146] detected higher concentrations of PAHs in the carnivorous fish golden threadfin bream Nemipterus virgatus and catfish Clarias fuscus compared with herbivorous/omnivorous fish. It is difficult to obtain a consensus on the PAH-accumulation trend in fish among trophic levels due to their huge differences in PAH bioavailability and habitat between species [140,150,159,160]. Oligochaete worms Lake Erie 8 300-400 (range) Eadie et al [154] Chironomid midges Lake Erie 8 400-800 (range) Eadie et al [154] Bivalves: Zebra mussel Detroit River and western Lake Erie 16 USEPA priority 12.6-8.7 (range) Metcralfe et al [156] Note.…”

“…On the other hand, it is worth describing several trends of PAH accumulation in fish. Low-molecular-weight compounds (naphthalene and three-ring PAHs) are dominant among PAHs [133,139,140,161] due to their bioavailability, including relatively high water solubility. This bioavailability can cause higher uptake rates compared with high-molecular-weight PAHs via the surface area, especially the gill.…”

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

“…where C i is the concentration of the individual PAH in fish muscle (ng/g ww), and TEFi is the corresponding toxic equivalency factor related to BaP (Nisbet and LaGoy 1992).…”