One Health assessment of persistent organic chemicals and PFAS for consumption of restored anadromous fish

Lisa Jo Melnyk; James M Lazorchak; Daniel H Kusnierz; Gary D Perlman; John Lin; Raghuraman Venkatapathy; Devi Sundaravadivelu; Jonathan Thorn; James Durant; Katherine Pugh; Michael A Stover

doi:10.1038/s41370-023-00620-3

One Health assessment of persistent organic chemicals and PFAS for consumption of restored anadromous fish

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2023 Dec 15. doi: 10.1038/s41370-023-00620-3. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA. melnyk.lisa@epa.gov.
² U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
³ Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Indian Island, ME, USA.
⁴ Senior Environmental Employee Grantee, EPA, Region 1, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Pegasus Technical Services, Inc., Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁶ Battelle, Norwell, MA, USA.
⁷ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ EPA, Region 4, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁹ EPA, Region 1, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 38102302
DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00620-3

Abstract

Background: Restoration efforts have led to the return of anadromous fish, potential source of food for the Penobscot Indian Nation, to the previously dammed Penobscot River, Maine.

Objective: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Penobscot Indian Nation's Department of Natural Resources (PINDNR), and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), measured contaminants in six species of anadromous fish. Fish tissue concentrations were then used, along with exposure parameters, to evaluate potential human and aquatic-dependent wildlife risk.

Methods: PINDNR collected, filleted, froze, and shipped fish for analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins/furans, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Contaminant levels were compared to reference doses (where possible) and wildlife values (WVs).

Results: Chemical concentrations ranged from 6.37 nanogram per gram (ng/g) wet weight (ww) in American Shad roe to 100 ng/g ww in Striped Bass for total PCBs; 0.851 ng/g ww in American Shad roe to 5.92 ng/g ww in large Rainbow Smelt for total PBDEs; and 0.037 ng/g ww in American Shad roe to 0.221 ng/g ww in Striped Bass for total dioxin/furans. PFAS concentrations ranged between 0.38 ng/g ww of PFBA in Alewife to 7.86 ng/g ww of PFUnA in Sea Lamprey. Dioxin/furans and PFOS levels indicated that there are potential human health risks. The WV for mink for total PCBs (72 ng/g) was exceeded in Striped Bass and the WV for Kestrel for PBDEs (8.7 ng/g) was exceeded in large Rainbow Smelt. Mammalian wildlife consuming Blueback Herring, Striped Bass, and Sea Lamprey may be at risk based on PFOS WVs from Canada.

Impact: Anadromous fish returning to the Penobscot River potentially could represent the restoration of a major component of tribal traditional diet. However, information about contaminant levels in these fish is needed to guide the tribe about consumption safety. Analysis of select species of fish and risk calculations demonstrated the need for a protective approach to consumption for both humans and wildlife. This project demonstrates that wildlife can also be impacted by contamination of fish and their risks can be as great or greater than those of humans. A One Health approach addresses this discrepancy and will lead to a healthier ecosystem.

Keywords: Anadromous fish; Exposure; One health approach; PFAS; Persistent organic chemicals.