Assessment of risk of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in marine and freshwater fish in Pearl River Delta, China

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2011-01, Vol.63 (5-12), p.166-171
• Main Authors: Wei, X., Leung, K.S., Wong, M.H., Giesy, J., Cai, Z.W., Wong, Chris K.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; animal ovaries; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; carnivores; China; cities; cytochrome P-450; Dioxins; Dioxins - analysis; Dioxins - metabolism; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Enzymes; Female; Fish; fish consumption; fish products; Fishes - metabolism; Fresh Water - chemistry; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; freshwater fish; Freshwaters; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - metabolism; Health; human health; humans; industrialization; Leydig cells; Leydig Cells - drug effects; Male; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; markets; Mice; Ovarian cells; pollutants; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism; Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins; polychlorinated dibenzodioxins; Polychlorinated dibenzofurans; population; progesterone; regulatory proteins; Risk; Risk Assessment; river deltas; Rivers; Sea water ecosystems; Seafood - analysis; Seawater - chemistry; Synecology; testosterone; toxic substances; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; water pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.02.025

► Risks of dioxin exposure from fish consumption were assessed in the Pearl River Delta. ► Concentrations of total dioxins in fish ranged from 0.481 to 9.05pg TEQ/g wet weight. ► The greatest concentrations of dioxins were measured in mandarin fish. ► Negative effects of dioxin exposure on gonadal steroidogenesis were revealed. Fish consumption is known to be beneficial to human health. However since the age of industrialization, the released/disposed chemical pollutants into water systems make fish a source of various environmental toxicants to humans. In oceanic cities with heavy industrial activities, fish products contribute the greatest proportion of exposure to pollutants. In this study, risks and potential effects of dioxins to health of coastal populations in the Pearl River Delta were assessed. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in common fish species purchased at local markets. Concentrations of total dioxins in fish ranged from 0.481 to 9.05pg TEQ/g wet weight were similar to the lesser concentrations reported for fish from other countries. The greatest concentrations of dioxins were measured in mandarin fish, a carnivorous freshwater fish. Exposure of murine primary leydig and ovarian cells to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (2,3,7,8-TCDD) reduced the synthesis of progesterone, testosterone and/or estrogen. The reductions were probably via inhibitory effects on the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc). Based on these reproductive parameters, the concentrations of dioxins and dioxin-like residues represent a moderate health risk due to consumption of fish.