Integrated Assessment of PAH Contamination in the Czech Rivers Using a Combination of Chemical and Biological Monitoring

Abstract

This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) pollution of selected rivers in the Czech Republic. Integrated evaluation was carried out using combination of chemical and biological monitoring, in which we measured content of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in chub bile and priority PAH in water samples obtained by exposing the semipermeable membrane devices at each location. The concentrations of 1-OHP in bile samples and sum of priority PAH in water sampler ranged from 6.8 ng mg protein−1 to 106.6 ng mg protein−1 and from 5.2 ng L−1 to 173.9 ng L−1, respectively. The highest levels of biliary metabolite and PAH in water were measured at the Odra River (the Bohumín site), which is located in relatively heavily industrialized and polluted region. Statistically significant positive correlation between biliary 1-OHP and sum of PAH in water was also obtained (P < 0.01, r s = 0.806).

Linking Ah receptor mediated effects of sediments and impacts on fish to key pollutants in the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir, China — A comprehensive perspective

“…This can either be referred to a higher pollution at Wushan, as Blahova et al (2014) determined a statistically positive correlation between biliary 1-OHPyr and the total PAH content in the water, or to an extreme situation, like a contaminated food source that was taken up by the fish not long before they were caught. Most individuals from Wushan had an amply filled stomach and displayed the lowest absorption of bile at 380 nm (Table 3), meaning that bile was secreted for digestion of the food before and more was freshly produced.…”