Concentrations and loads of polychlorinated biphenyls in major tributaries entering Green Bay, Lake Michigan, 1989-90

House, Leo B.; Hughes, Peter; Waschbusch, R.J.

doi:10.3133/ofr93132

“…A similar underestimate is also expected for the tissue residues of PCDDs and PCDFs. According to our PCB data, bioaccumulation factors (ratios of PCBs in frogs/PCBs in environmental compartment) are in the range of 0.00025 to 0.0175 for frogs compared with sediment, 21.25 to 292 for frogs collected from sites in the Fox River compared with Fox River water (130 ng/L in 1987), and 17.5 to 135 for frogs collected from sites in Green Bay compared with Green Bay water (≤40 ng/L in 1987) [25–27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of northern leopard frogs in the green bay ecosystem to polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo—p‐dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans is measured by direct chemistry but not hepatic ethoxyresorufin—o‐deethylase activity

Huang¹,

Karasov²,

Patnode³

et al. 1999

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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We measured concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in northern leopard frogs collected from the Green Bay ecosystem and explored the catalytic activity of hepatic cytochrome P450-associated monooxygenase (P450 enzyme) as a biomarker for exposure to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. The two hypotheses tested were PCH concentrations in northern leopard frogs would be positively correlated with sediment polychlorinated hydrocarbon (PCH) levels in wetland habitats along a contamination gradient and hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity of northern leopard frogs, which is presumably mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), would be positively correlated with PCH concentrations in frog carcasses (whole body minus liver) from different collection sites. In 1994 to 1995, frogs from seven sites along the lower Fox River and Green Bay, USA, were assayed for hepatic EROD activities and whole carcass concentrations of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. Tissue total PCB concentrations ranging from 3 to 154 ng/g were significantly correlated with sediment PCB levels. Only one PCDD and two PCDFs at concentrations of 6 to 8 pg/g were found in the frogs collected from one of the sites. The EROD activity in frogs ranging from 186 to 270 pmol/min/mg protein was not significantly correlated with frog body weight and was similar among sites except for Peter's Marsh. No significant correlation was found between EROD activity and carcass PCB concentration. This result was consistent with the fact that the frogs collected from the Green Bay ecosystem had relatively low PCB concentrations compared with what was required for induction in the laboratory (ED50 for EROD is between 700 and 2,300 ng/g).

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“…Not surprisingly, given the long history of industrialization, the Lower Fox River has been listed as an Area of Concern by the USEPA (). Numerous studies have addressed polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of the sediments and water column ( − ). Contamination of the sediments with mercury and other trace metals has also been studied with sources ascribed to industrial inputs ( , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partitioning and Transport of Total and Methyl Mercury in the Lower Fox River, Wisconsin

Hurley

¹

,

Cowell

²

,

Shafer

³

et al. 1998

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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To investigate transport and partitioning processes of HgT in the Fox River, we coupled detailed time series data of total mercury (HgT) at the river mouth with transect sampling in the Lower Fox River. Unfiltered HgT concentrations in the Fox River during the study period (April 1994−October 1995) ranged from 1.8 to 182 ng L-1 with a median of 24.8 ng L-1, predominantly (93.6%) in the particulate phase. These levels were significantly elevated compared with other large tributaries to Lake Michigan (Hurley, J. P.; Shafer, M. M.; Cowell, S. E.; Overdier, J. T.; Hughes, P. E.; Armstrong, D. E. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1996, 30, 2093−2098). Transect sampling revealed progressively increasing water column HgT concentrations and HgT particulate enrichment downstream, which were consistent with trends in sediment HgT levels in the river. Resuspended sediments are likely the predominant source of Hg from the Fox River into Green Bay. Despite elevated HgT concentrations, methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were relatively low, suggesting limited bioavailability of HgT associated with sediments.

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Exposure of Northern Leopard Frogs in the Green Bay Ecosystem to Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins, and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans Is Measured by Direct Chemistry but Not Hepatic Ethoxyresorufin-O-Deethylase Activity

Huang¹,

Karasov²,

Patnode³

et al. 1999

Environ Toxicol Chem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We measured concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in northern leopard frogs collected from the Green Bay ecosystem and explored the catalytic activity of hepatic cytochrome P450-associated monooxygenase (P450 enzyme) as a biomarker for exposure to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. The two hypotheses tested were PCH concentrations in northern leopard frogs would be positively correlated with sediment polychlorinated hydrocarbon (PCH) levels in wetland habitats along a contamination gradient and hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity of northern leopard frogs, which is presumably mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), would be positively correlated with PCH concentrations in frog carcasses (whole body minus liver) from different collection sites. In 1994 to 1995, frogs from seven sites along the lower Fox River and Green Bay, USA, were assayed for hepatic EROD activities and whole carcass concentrations of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. Tissue total PCB concentrations ranging from 3 to 154 ng/g were significantly correlated with sediment PCB levels. Only one PCDD and two PCDFs at concentrations of 6 to 8 pg/g were found in the frogs collected from one of the sites. The EROD activity in frogs ranging from 186 to 270 pmol/min/mg protein was not significantly correlated with frog body weight and was similar among sites except for Peter's Marsh. No significant correlation was found between EROD activity and carcass PCB concentration. This result was consistent with the fact that the frogs collected from the Green Bay ecosystem had relatively low PCB concentrations compared with what was required for induction in the laboratory (ED50 for EROD is between 700 and 2,300 ng/g).

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Concentrations and loads of polychlorinated biphenyls in major tributaries entering Green Bay, Lake Michigan, 1989-90

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Exposure of northern leopard frogs in the green bay ecosystem to polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo—p‐dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans is measured by direct chemistry but not hepatic ethoxyresorufin—o‐deethylase activity

Exposure of northern leopard frogs in the green bay ecosystem to polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo—p‐dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans is measured by direct chemistry but not hepatic ethoxyresorufin—o‐deethylase activity

Partitioning and Transport of Total and Methyl Mercury in the Lower Fox River, Wisconsin

Exposure of Northern Leopard Frogs in the Green Bay Ecosystem to Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins, and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans Is Measured by Direct Chemistry but Not Hepatic Ethoxyresorufin-O-Deethylase Activity

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