Toxic chemicals in sediments and biota from a creosote-polluted harbor: relationships with hepatic neoplasms and other hepatic lesions in English sole (Parophrys vetulus)

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/6.10.1463· OSTI ID:6371833

Malins, D C; Krahn, M M; Myers, M S; Rhodes, L D; Brown, D W; Krone, C A; McCain, B B; Chan, S L

High prevalences of idiopathic hepatic lesions, including neoplasms (e.g., hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocellular carcinomas) (27%, 20 of 75 fish) and foci of cellular alteration (putative preneoplastic lesions) (44%, 33 of 75 fish), were found in English sole (Parophrys vetulus) exposed to creosote-contaminated sediments in Eagle Harbor, Puget Sound, WA. Sediments from the contaminated region of the harbor contained particularly high concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzo(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene), and a variety of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds (e.g., carbazole and acridine). The composition of the aromatic compounds was characteristic of creosote. Dramatically lower concentrations of aromatic compounds were found in sediments from a reference site in which the bottom-dwelling fish examined were free of detectable neoplastic or preneoplastic hepatic lesions. Food organisms in the stomachs of the English sole from Eagle Harbor contained substantially higher concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons than comparable organisms from the reference site. The concentrations of individual aromatic hydrocarbons in muscle and liver from the Eagle Harbor fish were low; however, high concentrations of metabolites of aromatic compounds were present in the bile. The findings strongly suggest an association between exposure to creosote and the prevalence of hepatic lesions, including neoplasms, in the bottom-dwelling fish, and furthermore support the putative role of aromatic hydrocarbons in liver carcinogenesis in fish.

• Research Organization: Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center, Seattle, WA
• OSTI ID: 6371833
• Journal Information: Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Carcinogenesis (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 10; ISSN CRNGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACRIDINES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
AZINES
AZOLES
BENZANTHRACENE
BENZOPYRENE
BILE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBAZOLES
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
CREOSOTE
CRESOLS
DIET
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION X
FISHES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIVER
MATERIALS
METABOLITES
MUSCLES
NEOPLASMS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PATHOGENESIS
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
PUGET SOUND
PYRIDINES
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASHINGTON
WATER POLLUTION