Neutral and phenolic brominated organic compounds of natural and anthropogenic origin in northeast Atlantic Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)

Abstract

In the present study, muscle and liver tissue from 10 female Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) collected in Icelandic waters were analyzed for neutral and phenolic brominated organic compounds, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and the structurally related methoxylated (MeO) and hydroxylated (OH) PBDEs. Hydroxylated PBDEs exist both as natural products and as metabolites of the anthropogenic PBDEs, whereas MeO-PBDEs appear to exclusively be of natural origin. Other compounds examined were 2',6-dimethoxy-2,3',4,5'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (2',6-diMeO-BDE68), 2,2'-dimethoxy-3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobiphenyl (2,2'-diMeO-BB80), 2,4,6-tribromoanisol (2,4,6-TBA) and 2,4,6-tribromophenol, all of natural origin, although 2,4,6-TBA and its phenolic counterpart may also be of anthropogenic origin. The major brominated organic compound was 6-MeO-BDE47, and ΣMeO-PBDE ranged from 49 to 210 ng/g fat in muscle and from 55 to 200 ng/g fat in liver tissue. Total concentrations of PBDEs were lower than ΣMeO-PBDE, in all but one sample, ranging between 7.3 to 190 and 9.9 to 200 ng/g fat in muscle and liver, respectively, and major congeners were BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers were analyzed using both high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) as a quality assurance, and the results from this comparison were acceptable. In accordance with previous work on Greenland sharks, no size/age-related accumulation was observed. Differences seen in concentrations were instead assumed to be a reflection of different feeding habits among the individuals. Phenolic compounds were only formed/retained in trace amounts in the Greenland shark. Among the phenolic compounds studied were 6-OH-BDE47, 2'-OH-BDE68, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol, all detected in liver and the latter two in muscle.

Biology of the Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus

“…Recently, there have been a number of studies that have reported concentrations of organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDT) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in S. microcephalus from North Atlantic waters Strid et al, 2007Strid et al, , 2010.…”

“…Recently, Strid et al (2010) reported on concentrations of natural and anthropogenically-derived brominated compounds in livers of 10 S. microcephalus collected around the waters of Iceland. Levels of PBDEs, anthropogenic-origin, and natural brominated compounds (2,4,6-tribromophenol) were higher in S. microcephalus than in other fish species collected around Iceland; this was attributed to their higher trophic position, large size and possibly also high longevity.…”

Spatial distribution and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in snails (Bellamya aeruginosa) and sediments from Taihu Lake area, China

“…Table S2) in snails, followed by BDE-100. This is a typical PBDE congener profile often observed in aquatic species most likely due to the historic usage of the commercial Penta-BDE product (de Boer et al 2003; Strid et al 2010; Yin et al 2015). The average concentration ratio between BDE-99 and BDE-100 in the snails was 2.2, slightly lower than the ratio in technical Penta-BDE mixtures (3.7 and 5.7 in DE-71 and Bromkal 70-5DE, respectively) (La Guardia et al 2006).…”

Meet the Greenland shark, a seemingly sleepy Arctic predator

“…Its food habits may allow accumulation of toxic and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Studies have reported concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (Fisk, Lyderson, and Kovacs 2002;Strid et al 2007Strid et al , 2010. In general, the shark contains high concentrations of contaminants (Corsolini et al 2014), which is not surprising given its high trophic position and longevity.…”