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BILIARY PAH METABOLITES AS A BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR OF FISH EXPOSURE IN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE ERIE
Citation:
Yang, X., D. S. Peterson, P. C. Baumann, AND E.L C. Lin. BILIARY PAH METABOLITES AS A BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR OF FISH EXPOSURE IN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE ERIE. Presented at Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Baltimore, MD, November 11-15, 2001.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this research project is to provide methods, tools and guidance to Regions, States and Tribes to support the TMDL program. This research will investigate new measurement methods and models to link stressors to biological responses and will use existing data and knowledge to develop strategies to determine the causes of biological impairment in rivers and streams. Research will be performed across multiple spatial scales, site, subwatershed, watershed, basin, ecoregion and regional/state.
Description:
Biliary polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) metabolites have been studied as a biological indicator of fish exposure to PAHs since the mid 1980's. Brown bullheads were collected from the following Lake Erie tributaries: Buffalo River (BUF), Niagara River at Love Canal (NIA), Old Woman Creek (OWC), Ottawa River (OTT), Cuyahoga River-harbor (CRH), Cuyahoga River-upstream (CRUP), Ashtabula River (ASH) and Detroit River (DET). Bile was taken for analysis and fish were examined for external pathology. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene type and Naphthalene type PAH metabolites in the bile of fish were estimated using Fixed-wavelength fluorescence (FF). External pathology of fish included counts of raised lesions and counts of abnormalities on each barbel, such as shortening and knobs of scar tissue. Fish from the reference site OWC and the extensively remediated Niagara River at Love Canal contained the lowest levels of biliary PAH metabolites. In fish from BUF, CRH and CRUP, which are industrially polluted, PAH metabolites were about an order of magnitude higher. The same trend was found in the external abnormalities, with fish from CRH and CRUP having seven to sixteen times the barbel deformities and four to six times the raised lesions as fish from OWC. A good correlation was obtained between the biliary PAH concentrations and the prevalence of external abnormalities in the fish from all of the Lake Erie tributaries. Our study provides added evidence that fish biliary PAH metabolites can be used as a biological indicator of fish exposure and effects.