Bioaccumulation of PCBs in liver tissue of dusky Carcharhinus obscurus, sandbar C. plumbeus and white Carcharodon carcharias sharks from south-eastern Australian waters

Jann M Gilbert; Christine Baduel; Yan Li; Amanda J Reichelt-Brushett; Paul A Butcher; Shane P McGrath; Victor M Peddemors; Laurence Hearn; Jochen Mueller; Les Christidis

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.071

Bioaccumulation of PCBs in liver tissue of dusky Carcharhinus obscurus, sandbar C. plumbeus and white Carcharodon carcharias sharks from south-eastern Australian waters

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Dec 30;101(2):908-13. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.071. Epub 2015 Nov 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia. Electronic address: janngilbert59@gmail.com.
² The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox), Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia.
³ Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales 2480, Australia.
⁴ National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia; Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Industry, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia.
⁵ Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Industry, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia.
⁶ Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Industry, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia.
⁷ National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia.

PMID: 26555794
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.071

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous pollutants in the marine environment that are known to accumulate in apex predators such as sharks. Liver samples from dusky Carcharhinus obscurus, sandbar Carcharhinus plumbeus, and white Carcharodon carcharias sharks from south-eastern Australian waters were analysed for the seven indicator PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180. Median ∑PCBs were significantly higher in white than sandbar sharks (3.35 and 0.36 μg g(-1) lipid, respectively, p=0.05) but there were no significant differences between dusky sharks (1.31 μg g(-1) lipid) and the other two species. Congener concentrations were also significantly higher in white sharks. Significant differences in PCB concentrations between mature and immature dusky (3.78 and 0.76 μg g(-1) lipid, respectively) and sandbar (1.94 and 0.18 μg g(-1) lipid, respectively) sharks indicated that PCB concentrations in these species increased with age/growth. Higher-chlorinated congeners (hexa and heptachlorobiphenyls) dominated results, accounting for ~90% of ∑PCBs.

Keywords: Carcharhinus obscurus; Carcharhinus plumbeus; Carcharodon carcharias; PCBs; Sharks.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / metabolism*
Animals
Australia
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Female
Limit of Detection
Liver / metabolism*
Male
Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
Polychlorinated Biphenyls / pharmacokinetics
Seawater / chemistry
Sharks / metabolism*
Species Specificity
Tissue Distribution
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / pharmacokinetics

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Polychlorinated Biphenyls