Distribution and biological impact of dioxin-like compounds in risk zones along the Ebro River basin (Spain).
The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the environmental impact associated to PCDDs/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in the Ebro River basin. Sediments and fish from several species were sampled at three sites with different historical pollution records, including the Barbastro area with different industrial activities, and the Flix and Monzón sites, associated to heavy organochlorine compound pollution. Seventeen toxic PCDDs/Fs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs were analyzed by GC-MS. The results obtained indicated significant accumulation of dioxin-like PCBs, but not PCDDs/Fs, in sediments and fish at the Flix site compared to the other sites. Concomitantly, cytochrome p450 1A (CYP1A) expression, a known indicator for pollution by dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, was significantly elevated in barbel (Barbus graellsii) from the Flix site, compared to the population from the Barbastro site. CYP1A expression correlated with the concentration of dioxin-like PCBs in the fish fat, whereas no significant correlation was found with PCDDs/Fs concentrations. Our data suggest a significant biological impact at the Flix site, closely related to the presence of dioxin-like PCBs, whereas the PCDDs/Fs contribution to this impact appears to be non-significant, at least in the studied sites.
Eljarrat
Ethel
E
Department of Environmental Chemistry, IIQAB-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. eeeqam@cid.csic.es
Martínez
María Angeles
MA
Sanz
Paloma
P
Concejero
Miguel Angel
MA
Piña
Benjamin
B
Quirós
Laia
L
Raldúa
Demetrio
D
Barceló
Damià
D
D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D045483:Rivers; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D029941:Fish Proteins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1