Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fish with different feeding habits inhabiting a shallow lake ecosystem.

SILVA BARNI, M.F.; ONDARZA, P.; GONZÁLEZ, M.; DA CUÑA, R.; MEIJIDE, F.; GROSMAN, F.; SANZANO, P.; LO NOSTRO, F.; MIGLIORANZA, K.

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 550 p. 900 - 909

0048-9697

Theoccurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment canaffect organisms inhabiting aquatic systems, in particular shallow lakes thatare vulnerable to environmental stressors. This study was aimed at assessingPOPs accumulation and changes at histological and physiological levels intissues of three fish species with different trophic habits. Gills, brain, muscle, liver and gonads of Odontesthes bonariensis, Oligosarcus jenynsii and Cyphocharax voga were collectedfrom the shallow lake La Peregrina, located in an agricultural area fromArgentina. In addition, contaminantlevels in surface water (SW), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and bottomsediments (BS) were assessed. Histological lesions were evaluated in fishtissues and levels of vitellogenin (VTG) were assessed in plasma of male fish inorder to correlate these alterations with the presence of POPs in theenvironment. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined by GC-ECD. Biotic and abiotic samples showed thesame pattern in terms of POPs content: OCPs>PCBs>PBDEs. Although tissuedistribution of OCPs was species-specific, muscle showed the lowest levels inall three species. The most abundant contaminant was endosulfan, suggesting itswidespread use in the area. O.bonariensis showed the highest endosulfan levels in liver (184.2-219 ng g-1wet w), which was associated with thehigh levels recorded in SPM considering this speciesis a filter feeder. The occurrence of PCBs and PBDEs shows the ubiquity ofthese pollutants in the area. Histological lesions in gills and liver of O. bonariensis and O. jenynsii might be related with the predominance and relatively high levels of endosulfan in these organs. The detection of VTG in males of thesespecies warns about a possible exposure to estrogenic compounds in theenvironment. In conclusion, the simultaneous exposure of fish to multipleenvironmental pollutants leads to different alterations, so measures should betaken in order to prevent their occurrence and toxic effects.