Bioaccumulation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers by the Freshwater Benthic Amphipod Gammarus pulex

Abstract

This study reports on the relationship between polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in water, sediment, and the benthic macroinvertebrate Gammarus pulex, which plays a major ecological role in freshwater ecosystems. Samples were taken in a periurban watershed (near Paris, France), and PBDEs were systematically detected in sediment (≤727 ng g(-1) OC) and G. pulex (≤264 ng g(-1) lipids). PBDEs were also occasionally detected in the water column at low levels (∑ PBDEs < 1.5 ng L(-1)). The log values of bioaccumulation factors were in the range 7.8 ± 0.1-8.3 ± 0.4 L kg(-1) for tetra- and penta-BDEs, which were the only ones quantified in the dissolved phase of river water. Meanwhile, levels of individual tri- to hepta-PBDE congeners in G. pulex generally positively correlated with sediment levels, suggesting an equilibrium situation. Biota-to-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) of tri-hepta BDEs were congener specific and were in the range 0.5 ± 0.3-2.6 ± 1.2. For several PBDEs, BSAF values deviated from the expected range, likely because of in vivo metabolism.

Effects of two PBDE congeners on the moulting enzymes of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex

“…The accumulation of these two congeners in G. pulex is not surprising due to the fact that Tlili et al (2012) have previously demonstrated, in a field study, a PBDEs bioaccumulation in G. pulex. However, our results go further, since we have demonstrated a higher PBDE accumulation in females compared to males.…”

“…To our knowledge, no study was devoted to compare the bioaccumulation of BDE-47 and BDE-99 in freshwater invertebrates in laboratory conditions. However, this result is surprising as several field studies have highlight a greater bioaccumulation of BDE-47 as compared to BDE-99 in various aquatic species as flounder, blue mussel, aquatic oligochaete or amphipods (Christensen et al, 2002;Wu et al, 2008;Ciparis and Hale, 2009;Tlili et al, 2012;Waszak et al, 2012). In our study case, the higher BDE-99 accumulation in G. pulex as compared to BDE-47 accumulation could be explained by the fact that the BDE-99 concentration in the water of exposure was higher than the BDE-47 one, especially at 1 mg L À1 (see Table 1).…”

“…As PBDEs are environmental persistent xenobiotics and bioaccumulated in biota (de Wit et al, 2010), the need to determine their effects on biota is important. Indeed, recent studies have underlined that PBDEs could be bioaccumulated in tissues of some aquatic organisms such as fish (Tomy et al, 2004;Isosaari et al, 2005;Lema et al, 2007), bivalves (Gustafsson et al, 1999;Parolini and Binelli, 2012) or amphipods (Tlili et al, 2012). Despite these observations and the fact that PBDEs have a widespread distribution in environment, most of the studies which have investigated their potential toxic effects, have been conducted on mammalian models (e.g.…”

“…According to the field study of Tlili et al (2012), we have chosen to work particularly with the two major congeners bioaccumulated in Gammarus pulex, i.e. 2,2 0 ,4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) and 2,2 0 ,4,4 0 ,5-penta-bromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99).…”

Changes in antitoxic defense systems of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex exposed to BDE-47 and BDE-99

“…Unfortunately, the release of PBDEs in ecosystems continues due to their presence in products currently in use and new products manufactured using recycled PBDE-containing material (La Guardia et al 2006). It has been shown that PBDEs, especially BDE-47 and BDE-99 congeners, bioaccumulated in several aquatic organisms such as fish or bivalves (Gustafsson et al 1999;Lema et al 2007;, but also amphipod (Tlili et al 2012;Gismondi and Thomé 2014;Lebrun et al 2014). Despite these observations, only few studies have investigated PBDEs toxic effects on invertebrates.…”