Chemical Accumulation and Toxicological Stress in Three Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus Nebulosus) Populations of the Detroit River, Michigan, Usa

Abstract

Abstract-Three populations of brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) were sampled in the Detroit River and analyzed for concentrations of persistent organic contaminants as well as incidences of external lesions and liver histopathology. Chemical analysis revealed that both the sediments and the bullheads of the Trenton Channel had the highest concentrations of organochlorine compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compared with the other two sites (Amherstburg Channel and Peche Island). Furthermore, the Trenton Channel bullhead population had a higher prevalence of external abnormalities such as lip and skin lesions as well as truncated barbels. Histopathological analysis of the livers revealed higher prevalences of cholangiocarcinomas, cholangiomas, and other lesions in the Trenton Channel population. These observations support the conclusion that the health of the Trenton Channel bullhead population in the Detroit River is affected by exposure to organic chemicals, primarily through exposure to contaminated sediments.

Pollution-induced behavioural effects in the brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)

“…They are philopatric, benthic fish and have a high sediment affiliation, exposing them to pollutants that occur in the sediment. For example, brown bullheads from the heavily polluted Trenton Channel in the Detroit River have chemical burdens in their tissues similar to those of the sediment (Leadley et al 1998;Yang and Baumann 2006).…”

Assessment of the “fish tumors or other deformities” beneficial use impairment in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus): I. Orocutaneous tumors

“…Lip lesions for these age groups were 17.4% and 20%, body lesions 4.3% and 24%, and barbel abnormalities 4.3% and 20% at the two sites. Unfortunately it was not clear whether the lip and body surface lesions were actually tumors (Leadley et al, 1998). Only 5% of bullheads collected in the Detroit River in 1994 (age 3-5, mean 3.6, based on spine age) had raised lesions identified microscopically as papillomas (Arcand-Hoy and Metcalfe, 1999).…”

A historical perspective on the “fish tumors or other deformities” beneficial use impairment at Great Lakes Areas of Concern

“…Numerous studies have suggested an association between exposure to chemicals, most frequently PAHs, in the sediment of lakes and rivers and an increased prevalence of hepatic neoplasms in brown bullhead (Baumann et al, 1987Harshbarger, 1995, 1998;Brown et al, 1973;Harshbarger et al, 1984;Leadley et al, 1998;Pinkney et al, 2001Pinkney et al, , 2004aPyron et al, 2001;Smith et al, 1994). Susser (1986) suggests that although epizootiologic studies cannot prove cause and effect, the altered frequency or intensity of an effect caused by an intervention or remedial action can provide the strongest support possible for a causal hypothesis concerning a freeliving population.…”

“…Leadley et al (1998) sampled age-three and four brown bullhead from three locations along the Detroit River: Trenton Channel, Amherstburg Channel, and a reference site offshore Peche Island. The Trenton Channel sediments contained 12-and 20-times greater concentrations of PAHs than sediments from Amherstburg Channel and Peche Island, respectively.…”