Bioaccumulation, metabolism, and risk assessment of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in specific tissues of wild fish

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2019-07, Vol.226, p.607-615
• Main Authors: Lv, Yin-Zhi, Yao, Li, Wang, Li, Liu, Wang-Rong, Zhao, Jian-Liang, He, Liang-Ying, Ying, Guang-Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioaccumulation; Fish tissues; Metabolism; Phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.187

Phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may pose a great hazard to wildlife and humans, owing to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and potential bioaccumulation ability. We investigated the bioaccumulation, metabolism, and human health risks of six phenolic EDCs, including bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), in wild fish from the Pearl River system, South China. Except EE2, the other five EDCs were detected in at least one of the four fish tissues (bile, liver, plasma, and muscle). The concentrations of BPA and 4-NP were greater than those of 4-t-OP, E1, and E2 in all tissues. The median values of log bioaccumulation factors for EDCs at the range of 3.86–4.52 in bile, 2.06–3.16 in liver, 2.69–3.87 in plasma, and 1.34–2.30 in muscle, indicating a higher bioaccumulation potential in fish bile than in other tissues. Greater levels of glucuronide/sulfate conjugated EDCs were found in fish bile and liver than in the plasma and muscle, suggesting that the liver and bile played an important role in the metabolism and excretion of phenolic EDCs in fish. The calculated hazard quotient values were below 1 for each compound, implying low risk to human health by intake of edible fish. [Display omitted] •Higher levels of BPA and 4-NP were found than 4-t-OP, E1 and E2 in the four fish tissues.•Fish bile displayed greater bioaccumulation ability for the phenolic EDCs than liver, plasma and muscle.•Liver and bile played a significant role in metabolism and excretion of the phenolic EDCs in fish.•Consumption of edible wild fish muscle might not cause considerable risk to human health.