title: Bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Gammarus pulex: relative importance of different exposure routes and multipathway modeling.
abstract: Characterizing the exposure routes of an organism and its ability to regulate accumulated contaminants is a crucial step toward developing a biomonitor. To date, very little data are available on the bioaccumulation kinetics of PBDEs in freshwater biota. This study aims at investigating the potential use of a litter-degrader widely distributed in European freshwaters, Gammarus pulex, as an indicator of exposure to PBDEs. In aquatic microcosms, gammarids were exposed to a mixture of brominated congeners (BDE-28, 47, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183) to assess their ability to bioconcentrate PBDEs. Results show that all tested congeners are highly internalized by G. pulex and uptake rates of PBDEs are closely related to their partition coefficients (Kow). The determination of the elimination rate of BDE-47, the congener most readily accumulated by gammarids, indicated that metabolism and excretion of this congener are low in G. pulex, which argues in favor of its use as a quantitative biomonitor. Finally, bioaccumulation experiments were performed using contaminated leaves to determine the relative importance of dietary uptake in the contamination of gammarids. Even though water is the preeminent exposure route, a significant uptake of BDE-47 through food was observed (27%). We propose a biodynamic model that takes into account both exposure routes to describe BDE-47 bioaccumulation. This study supports the use of this ubiquitous amphipod as an early warning monitor of the bioavailable contamination of freshwaters by PBDEs.
authors.affiliation: Irstea, UR HBAN - Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, 92761 Antony, France; FIRE FR-3020, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: jeremie.lebrun@irstea.fr.
authors.forename: Jérémie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.affiliation: Liège University, Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Centre for Analytical Research and Technology (CART), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.affiliation: Liège University, Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Centre for Analytical Research and Technology (CART), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.affiliation: Irstea, UR HBAN - Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, 92761 Antony, France; FIRE FR-3020, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gourlay-Francé
authors.affiliation: Liège University, Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Centre for Analytical Research and Technology (CART), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thomé
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether
keywords: Biodynamic model; Biomonitor; Dietary exposure; Freshwater invertebrate; Persistent organic pollutants; Toxicokinetics