EROD induction and PCDD/F levels in fish liver from the Biobio River in Chile.
The Biobio River basin, located in central Chile, is one of the most important freshwater resources for a population of 1 million inhabitants. The river receives discharges of pulp mills, sewage treatment plants and there is a diffuse input of materials coming from the drainage basin. Previous studies reported high levels of etoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction in fish from the lower stretch of the river, mainly due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure. The present study investigates polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs) levels as well as EROD induction in fish livers from Central Chile's Biobio River. Dioxin and furan levels in fish livers are reported for the first time in three areas of the Basin. In all samples the highest concentrations were found for the octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and PCDD/F TEQ concentrations ranged from 2.83 to 6.33 ppt (wet weight). The results indicate a clear induction of EROD activity in different fish species as the river mouth is approached, although this induction is not clearly related with dioxin and furan levels found in the fish livers. Our results clearly show that other pollutants might be acting as EROD inductors in the Biobio Basin.
EULA Chile Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
Rodrigo
R
Orrego
Begoña
B
Jiménez
Luisa R
LR
Bordajandi
Juan Francisco
JF
Gavilán
Bárbara
B
Inzunza
Esteban
E
Abad
María José
MJ
González
Josep
J
Rivera
Ricardo
R
Barra
D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D002677:Chile; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; C027309:3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl; C023035:3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl; C028451:3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl