Disposition of xenobiotic chemicals and metabolites in marine organisms

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3430850· OSTI ID:5010704

Varanasi, U; Stein, J E ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA (United States)

Studies with several bottom fish species from urban waterways show that of the identified xenobiotic chemicals in bottom sediments, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most strongly associated with the prevalence of liver lesions, including neoplasms. Accordingly, there is concern about the transfer of contaminants, such as PAHs, from aquatic species to humans. Because PAHs exert their toxicity only after being biotransformed, increasing attention has been focused on the ability of aquatic organisms to metabolize these chemicals. Overall, the results of both laboratory and field studies show that generally low levels of a few low molecular weight PAHs may be present in edible tissue of fish from contaminated areas and that high molecular weight PAHs, such as the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene, will rarely be detected because of extensive metabolism. Additionally, the results from a few studies suggest that even though interactions between xenobiotics can affect both biochemical and physiological systems to alter the disposition of PAHs in fish, these interactions do not markedly change the relative proportions of metabolites to parent PAH in tissues. Thus, these studies clearly demonstrate that to obtain some insight into the questions of whether there is any risk to human health from consuming fish and crustaceans from urban areas, techniques must be developed that measure metabolites of carcinogens, such as PAHs, in edible tissue. Initial attempts may focus on semiquantitative methods that permit rapid assessment of the level of metabolites in edible tissues of fish and crustaceans from many urban areas. Based on information from such screening studies, further refinement in methodology leading to identification of specific compounds may be needed because certain metabolites may not be as toxic or carcinogenic as others.

• OSTI ID: 5010704
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Vol. 90; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENZOPYRENE
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
XENOBIOTICS
METABOLISM
CRUSTACEANS
FISHES
FLUORENE
LIVER
METABOLITES
MUSCLES
PHENANTHRENE
PHYSIOLOGY
SEAWATER
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
ARTHROPODS
BODY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
GLANDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology