Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington, USA

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2020-09, Vol.158, p.111287-111287, Article 111287
• Main Authors: Conn, K.E., Liedtke, T.L., Takesue, R.K., Dinicola, R.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkylphenols; Aquatic birds; Aromatic compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Bioaccumulation; Biological magnification; Chlorinated hydrocarbons; Chlorinated paraffins; Chlorination; Contaminants; Creosote; Endocrine disruptors; Ethers; Fish; Forage fish; Forage fishes; Freshwater fishes; Marine fish; Marine fishes; Marine mammals; Marine pollution; PAHs; Paraffins; PCB; PCBs; Pesticides; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Predators; Prey; Puget Sound; Salmon; Sand; Sand lance; Seabirds; Tissue; Tissues; Toxicity tests; Water pollution effects
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111287

Forage fish are primary prey for seabirds, fish and marine mammals. Contaminant transfer and biomagnification of the toxic compounds measured in this study likely contribute to elevated levels in Puget Sound, Washington, salmon and killer whale tissues that could be sufficiently high to elicit adverse effects and hamper population recovery efforts. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorinated pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols, and chlorinated paraffins were detected in all Pacific sand lance tissue samples generally below available health effect levels. Residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon tissue concentrations near a former creosote site suggest ongoing contaminant exposure. Biomagnification calculations suggest that concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in some forage fish could result in predator tissue concentrations exceeding effect levels. The emerging contaminants alkylphenols and chlorinated paraffins are first reported here in Puget Sound forage fish, and their frequent detection, high production volumes and endocrine-disrupting properties highlight the need for further study. •Puget Sound sand lance contain a mixture of legacy and current-use toxic contaminants•Alkylphenols and chlorinated paraffins are first reported in Puget Sound forage fish•Tissue concentrations of toxic chemicals were below available fish health effect levels•More information is needed on sub-lethal effects and additive effects from exposure to multiple compounds•Sand lance likely contribute to known elevated toxic chemical concentrations in threatened salmon and marine mammals