Spatial contrasts in hepatic and biliary PAHs in Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) throughout the Gulf of Mexico, with comparison to the Northwest Atlantic

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2020-03, Vol.258, p.113775, Article 113775
• Main Authors: Snyder, Susan M., Olin, Jill A., Pulster, Erin L., Murawski, Steven A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Atlantic Ocean; Deepwater Horizon; Demersal fish; Environmental baseline; Environmental Monitoring; Fishes; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Gulf of Mexico; Liver - chemistry; Marine pollution; Petroleum Pollution - analysis; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Spatial Analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113775

A multinational demersal longline survey was conducted on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf over the years 2015 and 2016 to generate a Gulf-wide baseline of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in demersal fishes. Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) were sampled in all regions of the Gulf of Mexico for biometrics, bile, and liver. Tilefish liver was also obtained from surveys in the northwest Atlantic Ocean for comparison. Liver tissues (n = 305) were analyzed for PAHs and select alkylated homologs using QuEChERS extractions and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Bile samples (n = 225) were analyzed for biliary PAH metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Spatial comparisons indicate the highest levels of PAH exposure and hepatic accumulation in the north central Gulf of Mexico, with decreasing concentrations moving from the north central Gulf counterclockwise, and an increase on the Yucatán Shelf. Hepatic PAH concentrations were similar between the Gulf of Mexico and the northwest Atlantic, however, Tilefish from the northwest Atlantic had higher concentrations and more frequent detection of carcinogenic high molecular weight PAHs. Overall, results demonstrate that PAH pollution was ubiquitous within the study regions, with recent exposure and hepatic accumulation observed in Tilefish from both the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Atlantic. [Display omitted] •Highest PAH exposure and accumulation in Tilefish is in the northern Gulf of Mexico.•Lowest PAH exposure and accumulation in Tilefish is in the southern Gulf of Mexico.•PAH levels in Tilefish are similar between the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Atlantic.•Tilefish in the northwest Atlantic accumulate more carcinogenic PAHs. PAH exposure and hepatic accumulation is ubiquitous in Gulf of Mexico tilefish, with the highest and lowest levels in the north central and southern Gulf of Mexico, respectively.