Persistent organic pollutants in fish from Charleston Harbor and tributaries, South Carolina, United States: A risk assessment

Abstract

Fish consumption is an important route of exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in dolphins as well as humans. In order to assess the potential risks associated with these contaminants, 39 whole fish and 37 fillets from fish representing species consumed by dolphins and humans captured from Charleston Harbor and tributaries, South Carolina, USA, were measured for a suite of POPs. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the predominant contaminant with concentrations ranging from 5.02 to 232.20 ng/g in whole fish and 5.42-131.95 ng/g in fillets (weight weight ww) followed by total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Total POPs levels varied by location and species with general trends indicating significantly higher levels in fish from the Cooper (93.4 ng/g ww) and Ashley Rivers (56.2 ng/g ww) compared to Charleston Harbor (31.6 ng/g ww). Mullet and spot were found to have significantly higher PCBs, OCPs and total POPs, 2-3 times higher than red drum; mullet were also significantly higher in OCPs compared to seatrout. PCB concentrations in whole fish and fillets exceeded EPA human screening values for cancer risk in all fish sampled. For PCBs in fillets, all samples had values of maximum allowable meals per month that were less than the EPA, FDA guidelines for recommended fish meals per month, suggesting lower (more stringent) allowable fish meals per month. All fish exceeded PBDE wildlife values and all fish except two exceeded the level where 95% of the dolphin population would have tissue levels below the health effect threshold. Considering that POP concentrations in fish potentially consumed by humans exceed human health effect thresholds levels, consumption advisories should be considered as a prudent public health measure.

Oestrogenic Endocrine Disruptors in the Placenta and the Fetus

“…OCPs have the features of low water solubility, stable chemical properties, and an ability to adsorb organic materials in soil; thus, the use of a large number of pesticides in agricultural production has led to the aggravation of soil, water, and air pollution. OCPs are gradually transmitted to fish and higher animals such as humans through the food chain, therefore, many aquatic and terrestrial species are seriously affected [62,63].…”

Epizootic neoplasia in a managed population of Atlantic bumper fish, Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Osteichthyes: Carangidae), at a public aquarium

“…A number of additional tumour types were observed less frequently. The Charleston Harbor watershed is highly industrialized and impacted by organic pollutants (Fair et al, 2018). Epizootic skin and liver neoplasia occur in fish inhabiting contaminated environmental sites and causal relationships between exposure to persistent and semi-persistent organic pollutants, and neoplasia in fish is supported by field and laboratory evidence (Myers et al, 1991;McAloose & Newton, 2009;Spitsbergen et al, 2000;Vethaak et al, 1996).…”

Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Bacterial and Fungal Diversity and Their Bioremediation Potential From Sediments of River Ganga and Yamuna in India

“…Uses of organochlorine (OC) pesticides are banned in many countries for a long, but they are still found in the natural streams, sediments, aquatic flora, and fauna due to their high persistency. Several aquatic ecosystems including rivers, wetlands, and sea were being continuously monitored regularly for assessing the level of OC and their risk assessment on aquatic life (DiScenza et al, 2017;Fair et al, 2018;Unyimadu et al, 2018). Due to their high lipophilicity properties, they are being easily adsorbed on the river sediments and by the aquatic fauna.…”