Bioaccumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants by chondrichthyan species in coastal waters of Southwest Atlantic: implications for conservation

SHIMABUKURO, V.; SCENNA, L.B.; CHIERICHETTI, M.; LO NOSTRO, F.; ONDARZA, P.; MIGLIORANZA, K.

Nantes

Congreso; SETAC Europe 26th Annual Meeting; 2016

SETAC EUROPE

Coastal marine ecosystems are amongst the most diverse and productive on the earth. However, they can function as sinks for diverse anthropogenic contaminants, such as the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which included organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Once released into the environment, POPs have the tendency to biomagnify in the food web, and consequently high trophic level organisms may accumulate high concentration in their tissues. Due to their relative longevity, moderate to large size, lipid-rich livers and high trophic position, chondrichthyans are able to accumulate significant concentrations of POPs. Buenos Aires Province (BAP) is one of the most economically important areas in Argentina, with an intensive agriculture production, commercial harbors and industries. In the coastal waters of this area (Southwest Atlantic between 34º and 41ºS), chondrichthyans are an important resource for artisanal, commercial and recreational fisheries. For that reason, levels and distribution of OCPs and PCBs were analyzed in liver, gonads and muscle of individuals of the cockfish Callorhinchus callorynchus (n=18), the smallnose fanskate Sympterygia bonapartii (n=6) and the rio skate Rioraja agassizii (n=6), captured in coastal waters of BAP. Concentrations were determine by GC-ECD. POPs levels (1.3?225.2 ng/g wet wt) in the tissues and organs of three species showed the following general tendency endosulfans>>PCBs>DDTs>HCHs and chlordanes, with the highest concentrations in livers. Females presented higher levels of these contaminants than males in the cockfish and smallnose fanskate. Endosufans represented up to 75% of the total OCPs with -/-isomers ratios ≥1 in the studied species, suggesting the technical mixture application for agricultural proposes, until their recently ban in Argentina. An enrichment of endosulfan sulfate levels was found in liver of both sexes of all species analyzed, suggesting the transformation of the parent isomers in these chondrichthyans. The most abundant PCBs were tetra (#44, #52) and hexa (#149, #153)-chlorinated congeners. The pp´-DDE+ pp´-DDD/ pp´-DDT ratios