title: Persistent organic pollutants in Baltic herring (Clupea harengus)-an aspect of gender.
abstract: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are monitored regularly in water, sediment, and biota in the Baltic Sea. Lipophilic substances are measured in remarkable concentrations especially in the fatty parts of fish, such as herring (Clupea harengus). However, less lipophilic POPs, e.g. perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), can also be detected. For the first time to our knowledge, this study provides a broad range of contaminant concentrations simultaneously measured in filet, liver, and gonads of both sexes of Baltic herring. We analysed organochlorines, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and PFCs in mature autumn-spawning individuals and found distinct organ pollutant pattern for all POPs in both sexes. POP concentrations found in the gonads of both sexes indicate that not only females but also males tend to reduce contaminants via reproduction. However, sex-dependent differences could be identified for hexachlorobenzene, PBDEs, and were most remarkable for PFCs. This transfer of contaminants to the gonads in both male and female herring is being underestimated, as it may directly affect the general reproduction success as well as the healthy development of the next generation. Hence, the accumulation of contaminants in the gonads should be considered one possible threat to a healthy wildlife as its achievement is stated by the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Inclusion of a periodic monitoring of POP concentrations in gonads of fish may be an important bioeffect measure to assess the environmental status of biota in the Baltic Sea.
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany. sos-publication@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany. publication@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keddig
authors.affiliation: German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Wüstland 2, 22589, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gerwinski
authors.affiliation: German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Wüstland 2, 22589, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neukirchen
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kammann
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haarich
authors.affiliation: Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanel
authors.affiliation: German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Wüstland 2, 22589, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theobald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001454:Baltic States; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006066:Gonads / Q000737:chemistry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Baltic Sea; Organochlorines; Perfluorinated compounds; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Tissue distribution