Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a food web of Lake Michigan

• Published in: Ecotoxicology (London) Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 623 - 634
• Main Authors: Kuo, Yin-Ming, Sepúlveda, Maria S, Hua, Inez, Ochoa-Acuña, Hugo G, Sutton, Trent M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.04.2010; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amphipoda - metabolism; Analysis; Animals; Bioaccumulation; Biodiversity; Biological magnification; Biotransformation; Body Burden; Body Weight; Carbon Isotopes - metabolism; Diporeia; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Ethers; Fish; Fishes; Fishes - growth & development; Fishes - metabolism; Flame Retardants - metabolism; Food Chain; Foods; Fresh Water - chemistry; Freshwater; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - metabolism; Lake Michigan; Lakes; Liver; Liver - metabolism; Michigan; Muscles; Muscles - metabolism; Nitrogen Isotopes - metabolism; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Plankton - metabolism; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Salmon; Tissue Distribution; Trophic levels; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Michigan; USA, Michigan L; Decabromodiphenyl ether; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Lake Michigan; Food web; Bioaccumulation; Biomagnification
• ISSN: 0963-9292; 1573-3017
• DOI: 10.1007/s10646-009-0431-1

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are hydrophobic chemicals and can biomagnify in food chains. Little is known about the biomagnification of PBDEs in the Lake Michigan food web. Plankton, Diporeia, lake whitefish, lake trout, and Chinook salmon were collected from Lake Michigan in 2006 between April and August. Fish liver and muscle and whole invertebrates were analyzed for six PBDEs (BDE-47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 209). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were also quantified in order to establish the trophic structure of the food web. Geometric means of [graphic removed] concentrations in fish ranged from 0.562 to 1.61 μg/g-lipid. BDE-209 concentrations ranged from 0.184 to 1.23 μg/g-lipid in all three fish species. [graphic removed] , 99, and 209 comprised 80-94% of [graphic removed] molar concentration. Within each fish species, there were no significant differences in PBDE concentrations between liver and muscle. The highest concentration of BDE-209 (144 μg/g-lipid) was detected in Diporeia. Based on analysis of δ¹⁵N and PBDE concentrations, BDE-47 and 100 were found to biomagnify, whereas BDE-209 did not. A significant negative correlation between BDE-209 and trophic level was found in this food web. Biomagnification factors were also calculated and again BDE-47 and 100 biomagnified between food web members whereas BDE-209 did not. Diporeia could be one of the main dietary sources of BDE-209 for fish in Lake Michigan; BDE-47 and 100 biomagnified within this food chain; the concentration of BDE-209 decreased at higher trophic levels, suggesting partial uptake and/or biotransformation of BDE-209 in the Lake Michigan food web.