Polybromodiphenyl Ether Flame Retardants in Fish from Lakes in European High Mountains and Greenland

Abstract

Individual polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in liver and muscle tissue of trout from 11 high mountain lakes in Europe and one in Greenland. Trouts in these lakes [brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)] are important sentinel species because they are located in the top of the food chain and pollution can only reach these ecosystems by atmospheric transport. The major PBDE congeners were BDE 47 and BDE 99, followed by BDE 100, BDE 153, BDE 154, and BDE 28. These compounds were found in all the samples examined. Their average concentrations [110-1300 and 69-730 pg g(-1) wet weight (ww) in liver and muscle or 2400-40000 and 2900-41000 pg g(-1) lipid weight (lw), respectively] were in the lower range when compared with those of fish from other less remote locations. The highest levels of PBDEs in liver and muscle are found in Lochnagar, Scotland: 11000 and 1200 pg g(-1) ww, respectively (366 000 and 177000 pg g(-1) lw, respectively). Male specimens exhibited higher PBDE concentrations in liver than female. The concentrations of most PBDEs in liver were correlated with fish age (p < 0.01) and, inversely, with condition factor (p < 0.01). Muscle PBDE concentrations did not correlate with age, and only some congeners showed significant positive correlations with condition factor (p < 0.05). The main differences between species were found in the accumulation of the more abundant PBDEs, brook trout showing the highest concentrations in muscle and the lowest in liver. No correlation between the occurrence of these compounds in high mountain fish and altitude, latitude, or temperature was observed. This fact and the lack of correlation between muscle concentrations and age suggest that the fluxes of PBDEs arriving at high mountain lakes are still not constant. In view of the present use of these compounds, they are probably increasing.

Contaminant pattern and bioaccumulation of legacy and emerging organhalogen pollutants in the aquatic biota from an e‐waste recycling region in South China

“…3). The predominance of BDE47 has been reported in previous assessments on PBDEs in aquatic organisms [32,33]. Brominated diphenyl ether-154's predominance over BDE153 and that of BDE100 over BDE99 in fish have also been reported in previous studies [19,34].…”

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment and fish tissues from Lake Chaohu, central eastern China

“…BDE-99 was constant in muscle and adipose tissue, slightly increased in liver and gills, and signifi cantly decreased in the kidneys with fi sh size growth. Vives et al (2004) found that the concentrations of most PBDEs in liver were correlated with fi sh age, this cannot apply to muscles. There is also evidence that the age of fi sh (Weijs et al 2009 concentrations and size or length suggesting that the fl uxes of PBDEs are still not constant (Vives et al 2004).…”

“…Vives et al (2004) found that the concentrations of most PBDEs in liver were correlated with fi sh age, this cannot apply to muscles. There is also evidence that the age of fi sh (Weijs et al 2009 concentrations and size or length suggesting that the fl uxes of PBDEs are still not constant (Vives et al 2004). This research showed that it should be treated differently to each congener, especially those typical ones that have higher pollution levels in environmental matrix when the relationship between distribution pattern in tissues and fi sh size was analyzed.…”

Tissue accumulation and species‐specific metabolism of technical pentabrominated diphenyl ether (DE‐71) in two predator fish

“…Due to their persistence and lipophilic properties, PBDEs can accumulate in the fatty tissues of various organisms [2]. Studies have shown that PBDEs are present in the liver and/ or muscle tissues of many fish species [3][4][5][6]. Detectable levels of PBDEs have also been reported in whole-fish homogenates of various types of marine and freshwater fish [7][8][9][10].…”