Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Canadian environment: Exposure and effects on wildlife

Wallace, Sarah J.; Solla, Shane R. de; Head, Jessica; Hodson, Peter V.; Parrott, Joanne L.; Thomas, Philippe J.; Berthiaume, A.; Langlois, Valérie S.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114863

Cited by 73 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 175 publications

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“…Although the last 3 time points (days 14-28) yielded similar malformation patterns and TPAH concentrations, the increase in cyp1a mRNA levels was different among the time points. The induction of cyp1a is well known to be responsive to several PAHs (reviewed in Wallace et al 2020); however, only the fraction at day 14 exhibited an increase in cyp1a mRNA levels. The lack of inductions observed at days 21 and 28 could be explained by an absence of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists (e.g., 4-ring PAHs; Incardona et al 2006), the presence of inhibitors, or the general disruption to the integrity of membranes, proteins, and/or nucleic acids (narcosis).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intermediate‐sized components, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs, are less volatile and contribute less to acute toxicity because they are taken up more slowly than lower molecular weight compounds (Dupuis and Ucán‐Marín 2015). However, PAHs and alkylated PAHs are responsible for more chronic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic impacts to a higher extent than n ‐alkanes and other petroleum biomarkers (Meador and Nahrgang 2019; Wallace et al 2020). It is also clear that 2‐to‐3–ringed PAHs have higher bioavailability than those with more rings (4–5; Wu et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Waves provide mixing energy that can break surface films of oil and distribute oil droplets into the water column (K. Lee et al 2015). Polar compounds in the oil have relatively high water solubility and so, with time, leave the oil phase and dissolve into the water (Wallace et al 2020). Given that the dissolved fraction of oil can diffuse across biological membranes (e.g., gills), solubility is arguably the most important factor in determining toxicity to aquatic biota (Cherr et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fate and Fathead Minnow Embryotoxicity of Weathering Crude Oil in a Pilot‐Scale Spill Tank

Lara-Jacobo

Gauthier

Xin

et al. 2020

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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For several years now, the Natural Resources Canada research facility at CanmetENERGY Devon (AB, Canada) has been performing experiments in a pilot-scale spill tank using 1200 L of river water to examine the physical and chemical behaviors of various crude oil/water mixtures under varying water temperature regimes. Because oil toxicity can be modulated by weathering of the petroleum products, the present study aimed to assess changes in fish embryotoxicity to mixed sweet blend crude oil as it weathered at air and water temperatures of 14°C and 15°C, respectively, for 28 d. The physicochemical behavior of the oil was also monitored. Water samples were taken from the spill tank 5 times during the 28-d experiment on days 1, 6, 14, 21, and 28 and were used to perform toxicity exposures using fathead minnow embryos (Pimephales promelas). For each water sampling day, newly fertilized embryos were exposed to a serial dilution of the spill tank water, noncontaminated river water (used in the spill tank), and a reconstituted water laboratory control. Embryos were raised until hatching. Although mortality was not significantly altered by the oil contamination over the time period, malformation occurrence and severity showed concentration-dependent responses to all contaminated water collected. The results suggest that days 14, 21, and 28 were the most toxic time periods for the fish embryos, which corresponded to increasing concentrations of unidentified oxidized organic compounds detected by a quadropole-time-of-flight system. The present study highlights a novel area for oil research, which could help us to better understand the toxicity associated with oil weathering for aquatic species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fate and Fathead Minnow Embryotoxicity of Weathering Crude Oil in a Pilot‐Scale Spill Tank

Lara-Jacobo

Gauthier

Xin

et al. 2020

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…We assayed Cyp1a4 mRNA because it is a well-known biomarker of exposure to PACs and related compounds, and is an indicator of embryotoxicity (Manning et al, 2013;Mundy et al, 2019;Wallace et al, 2020;Yang et al, 2010), yet we found only limited up-regulation of Cyp1a4 in the liver tissue of exposed cormorant embryos. The Cyp1a4 gene is one of two avian gene isoforms that encode the transcription of cytochrome P450 (CYP) subfamily 1A enzymes (Gilday et al, 1996;Mahajan & Rifkind, 1999;Walker et al, 2000).…”

Section: Cyp1a4 Mrna Gene Expression In Cormorantmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effects of Avian Eggshell Oiling With Diluted Bitumen Show Sublethal Embryonic Polycyclic Aromatic Compound Exposure

King

Elliott

Marlatt

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Breeding birds that become oiled may contaminate the shells of their eggs, and studies of conventional crude oil suggest that even small quantities can be absorbed through the eggshell and cause embryotoxicity. Unconventional crude oils remain untested, so we evaluated whether a major Canadian oil sands product, diluted bitumen (dilbit), would be absorbed and cause toxicity when applied to eggshells of two species, domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum). We artificially incubated eggs and applied lightly weathered dilbit (Cold Lake blend) to the eggshells (0.015-0.15 mg g −1 egg in chicken; 0.1-0.4 mg g −1 egg in cormorant) at various points during incubation before sampling prehatch embryos. Polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC) residue in cormorant embryos was elevated only at the highest dilbit application (0.4 mg g −1 egg) closest (day 16) to sampling on day 22. In contrast, cormorant liver cytochrome P450 1a4 (Cyp1a4) mRNA expression (quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay) was elevated only in embryos treated with the earliest and lowest dilbit application (0.1 mg g −1 egg on day 4). These results confirm that dilbit can cross through the eggshell and be absorbed by embryos, and they imply rapid biotransformation of PACs and a nonmonotonic Cyp1a4 response. Despite evidence of exposure in cormorant, we found no detectable effects on the frequency of survival, deformity, and gross lesions, nor did we find effects on physiological endpoints indicative of growth and cardiovascular function in either chicken or cormorant. In ovo dilbit exposure may be less toxic than well-studied conventional crude oils. The effects of an oil spill scenario involving dilbit to bird embryos might be subtle, and PACs may be rapidly metabolized.

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“…In fact, with global urban expansion and reliance on petroleum products, several studies are reporting increased levels of PACs near urban areas and industrial facilities ( Cheng et al, 2018 , Peng et al, 2016 , Tevlin et al, 2021 ). In general, PACs are highly lipophilic compounds that can be found as complex mixtures adsorbed to particles within the air, water, soil and sediment and are able to persist in the environment ( Wallace et al, 2020 ). Exposure to PACs can occur via inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the skin and other mucosal barriers, as well as be transferred between mother and offspring ( Gao et al, 2018 , Karttunen et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) on mammalian ovarian function

Perono

Petrik

Thomas

et al. 2022

Current Research in Toxicology

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Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Canadian environment: Exposure and effects on wildlife

Cited by 73 publications

References 175 publications

Fate and Fathead Minnow Embryotoxicity of Weathering Crude Oil in a Pilot‐Scale Spill Tank

Fate and Fathead Minnow Embryotoxicity of Weathering Crude Oil in a Pilot‐Scale Spill Tank

Effects of Avian Eggshell Oiling With Diluted Bitumen Show Sublethal Embryonic Polycyclic Aromatic Compound Exposure

The effects of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) on mammalian ovarian function

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