title: Bioaccumulation of organohalogenated compounds in sharks and rays from the southeastern USA.
abstract: Organohalogenated compounds are widespread in the marine environment and can be a serious threat to organisms in all levels of aquatic food webs, including elasmobranch species. Information about the concentrations of POPs (persistent organic pollutants) and of MeO-PBDEs (methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in elasmobranchs is scarce and potential toxic effects are poorly understood. The aims of the present study were therefore to investigate the occurrence of multiple POP classes (PCBs, PBDEs, DDXs, HCB, CHLs) and of MeO-PBDEs in various elasmobranch species from different trophic levels in estuarine and marine waters of the southeastern United States. Overall, levels and patterns of PCBs, PBDEs, DDXs, HCB, CHLs and of MeO-PBDEs varied according to the species, maturity stage, gender and habitat type. The lowest levels of POPs were found in Atlantic stingrays and the highest levels were found in bull sharks. As both species are respectively near the bottom and at top of the trophic web, with juvenile bull sharks frequently feeding on Atlantic stingrays, these findings further suggest a bioaccumulation and biomagnification process with trophic position. MeO-PBDEs were not detected in Atlantic stingrays, but were found in all shark species. HCB was not found in Atlantic stingrays, bonnetheads or lemon sharks, but was detected in the majority of bull sharks examined. Comparison with previous studies suggests that Atlantic stingrays may be experiencing toxic effects of PCBs and DDXs on their immune system. However, the effect of these compounds on the health of shark species remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia. Electronic address: liesbeth.weijs@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weijs
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Briels
authors.affiliation: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1220 Prospect Ave., #285, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Oceanology-MARE Center, University of Liège B6C, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lepoint
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Oceanology-MARE Center, University of Liège B6C, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012754:Sharks / Q000378:metabolism*; D012860:Skates, Fish / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Atlantic stingray; Bonnethead; Bull shark; CHLs; DDXs; HCB; Lemon shark; MeO-PBDEs; PBDEs; PCBs