Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Bile as Biomarkers of Pollution in European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) from German Rivers

Abstract

In the light of the alarming decline of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) population, there is an urgent need to define ecological indicators for eel habitat quality. Due to an increasing shortage of glass eels available for local stock enhancement, the decision of whether restocking is a valuable management tool to increase high-quality silver eel escapement to the sea needs to be evaluated. Organic contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are among the major threats to fish in their habitat. Therefore, the aim of the investigation presented here was to examine metabolites of PAHs in eel bile as one possible marker for habitat quality. In total, 170 yellow eels were collected in the rivers Rhine, Ems, Weser, Elbe, Havel, Schlei, Eider, Trave, Warnow, Peene, Uecker, and Oder in 2009. PAH metabolites in eel bile were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Metabolites of pyrene and phenanthrene were investigated. Concentrations of PAH metabolites in eel bile varied significantly between several rivers, with the highest mean concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene in eel bile from the river Trave (2421 and 632 ng/ml). Moreover, huge differences in the ratio of 1-hydroxypyrene to 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, with the highest mean value in eel bile from the river Ems (7.43) and the lowest mean value in eel bile from the river Uecker (0.70), indicate different sources of PAH contamination. A comparative analysis of PAH-metabolite contamination of eels in different river systems is seen as a first step toward a classification of freshwater habitats for restocking purposes.

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

“…The mean PAH metabolite concentrations in eel from European countries (range of means; 1-OHPyr: 56-3200 ng mL −1 ; 1-OHPhe: 70-495 ng mL − 1 ) are in the same order of magnitude than those found in P. vachellii obtained in this study (means: 1-OHPyr: 1087 ng mL − 1 ; 1-OHPhe: 136 ng mL − 1 ) Nagel et al, 2012;Ruddock et al, 2003;Szlinder-Richert et al, 2014).…”

PAH Metabolites in Bile of European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) from Morocco

“…At the same time, a movement of eels even in the yellow eel stage is another possible explanation for the detected results. In accordance with Nagel et al (2012a) and Ruddock et al (2003) 1-OH-Pyr was found to be the dominant compound in eel bile, except in samples from ''Sebou up'' where both metabolites are present in nearly equal concentrations (Table 1). Comparing the results of the present study to similar investigations from several European countries (Table 2), it is shown that the means of both PAH metabolite concentrations, especially in eel from the United Kingdome and Germany are higher compared to concentrations found in eel from Morocco.…”

“…Since eels are quite heavily exploited in Moroccan inland waters (ICES 2011), a pollution assessment is needed, not only with regard to thresholds for human consumption but also to detect possible biological effects of contaminants on this species. Although some studies exist on PAH metabolites in eel Nagel et al 2012a;Ruddock et al 2003;SzlinderRichert et al 2014) up to now no data are available for PAH metabolites in fish from Moroccan waters. The aim of this study was to bridge this gap and to provide first information on concentrations of PAH metabolites of eels in Morocco; to evaluate spatial differences in PAH contamination and to discuss the possible threat for eel due to PAH contamination.…”

Decadal Trends in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Contamination Assessed by 1-Hydroxypyrene in Fish Bile Fluid in the Netherlands: Declining in Marine Waters but Still a Concern in Estuaries

“…PAH metabolites as biomarker has been determined in a variety of marine, estuarine and fresh water fish species, such as English sole (Collier and Varanasi, 1991), plaice (Richardson et al, 2004), flounder (Ariese et al, 1993;Beyer et al, 1996;Eggens et al, 1996;Kopecka et al, 2006;Vethaak et al, 2011), dab (Kammann, 2007;Vethaak et al, 2009), Atlantic cod (Beyer et al, 1996;Aas et al, 2000), Atlantic hagfish (Sundt et al, 2011), feral finfish (Hellou et al, 2006), eelpout (Tairova et al, 2012), brown bullhead (Yang and Baumann, 2006), trout (Escartín and Porte, 1999a), eel (Van der Oost et al, 1994;Ruddock et al, 2003;Gorbi and Regoli, 2004;Nagel et al, 2012;Kammann et al, 2014), and red mullet (Escartin and Porte, 1999b;Martínez-Gómez et al, 2013). The concentration of PAH metabolites in the bile fluid with dab and flounder as target species has become part of international monitoring programmes, such as the OSPAR Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) (OSPAR Agreement 2008-09; Technical Annex 2: PAHspecific biological effects monitoring; OSPAR, 2008).…”