Bioaccumulation kinetics of brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Abstract

Baltic Sea blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were exposed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, IUPAC congeners 47, 99, and 153) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, congeners 31, 52, 77, 118, and 153) in a flow‐through experimental setup for 44 d. After the exposure phase, the mussels were allowed to depurate in natural brackish water for 26 d. After analyses, uptake clearance rate coefficients (ku), depuration rate coefficients (kd), and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were calculated. A rapid uptake of all PBDEs and PCBs was observed, especially for PBDE congeners 47 and 99 (ku 120 and 170 L/day/g dry weight, respectively). The depuration rate decreased with increasing hydrophobicity as expected for the PCBs, but for the PBDEs, depuration rate coefficients appeared to be of the same magnitude for all three congeners independently of log Kow. The BAFs obtained for PBDE 47 and PBDE 99 (1.3 × 106 and 1.4 × 106 ml/g dry weight, respectively) were higher than for all other substances in the study, severalfold higher than for PCBs of similar hydrophobicity. The presented data indicate that the bioaccumulation potential of PBDEs, extensively used as flame retardants, is similar or higher than that of PCBs for filter feeding organisms such as blue mussels.

Bioaccumulation of BDE-47 and effects on molecular biomarkers acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels

“…The same feature has been previously found in mussels by Gustafsson et al (1999) (K d = 0.09 day -1 ) and in turbot by Mhadhbi (2012) (K d ranging from 0.006 to 0.02 day -1 ). In fact, Gustafsson et al (1999) found a better fit of bioaccumulation data to a straight line (r 2 = 0.996) than to an asymptotic model (r 2 = 0.80), and that was also the case of the turbot experiments from Mhadhbi (2012). According to the first order bioaccumulation model, dCt/dt = Cw*Ku -Ct*Ke, a linear uptake would indicate that dCt/dt = Cw*Ku = constant, which is consistent with K d values close to zero.…”

“…Asterisks indicate significant differences with respect to DMSO control (Bonferroni test; *p \ 0.05; **p \ 0.01; ***p \ 0.001) Furthermore, a previous study from Gustafsson et al (1999) using the same species, found a BCF for BDE-47 of 26,000 L Kg -1 ww. However, these authors used a different methodology and mussels were fed during the exposure.…”

Bioaccumulation of PCB congeners in marine benthic infauna

“…Within group I, comprising congeners with no vicinal Hatoms, there are of course more highly chlorinated, and thereby more hydrophobic, congeners. Since the depuration rate decreases with increased hydrophobicity (Gustafsson et al, 1999;Lee, 1992) it is not possible to separate the relative importance of high hydrophobicity vs. low metabolic conversion in causing these high ratios. BSAF det.…”

“…Bioaccumulation in relation to age and size of analysed specimens Some often neglected factors that might affect the BSAF pattern and give rise to interspecific differences, in particular in field sampled animals, is the age and size of the analysed specimens. Both the uptake and depuration rate constants is reduced for very hydrophobic organic contaminants (Gustafsson et al, 1999;Hawker & Connel, 1985). This might have the effect that a very long time is required to reach steady state in the partitioning of highly chlorinated CBs between sediment and animals.…”

Measurements of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in a single drop of blood

“…Therefore, it is not surprising that PBDEs and PCBs have been found to be bioaccumulated in human, aquatic wildlife, and other ecosystems around the world [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Contamination in environment could include releases from manufacturing sites, poor management of hazardous waste sites that contain PCBs/PBDEs and disposal of PCB/PBDE products into non-hazardous waste.…”