Biliary 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish

• Published in: Neuro-endocrinology letters Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 663
• Main Authors: Blahova, Jana, Kruzikova, Kamila, Hilscherova, Klara, Grabic, Roman, Halirova, Jarmila, Jurcikova, Jana, Ocelka, Tomas, Svobodova, Zdenka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.10.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Bile - metabolism; Biomarkers; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyprinidae - physiology; Czech Republic; Environmental Monitoring; Fishes - metabolism; Fresh Water; Mutagens - metabolism; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Proteins - metabolism; Pyrenes - metabolism; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0172-780X

The aim of this study was the assessment of the Svitava and Svratka rivers contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) using 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) concentrations in fish bile as a biomarker. Levels of 1-OHP were determined by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detection. For valid assessment of bile accumulation levels, the 1-OHP concentration was normalized to the biliary protein content. The content of 1-OHP was correlated with the PAH content of river bottom sediments. The highest level of 1-OHP in fish bile (136.1 ng.mg-1 protein) was found at the locality Rajhradice, which is situated downstream of Brno. Also the greatest level of sum of PAHs was found at this locality (17.1 microg.g-1 dry mass). Significant positive correlation (p< or =0.05) between the level of 1-OHP and sum of PAHs in sediment was found only in case of sediments collected in the same month as fish samples (in June). Our results document that 1-OHP in fish bile is a suitable biochemical marker for the assessment of aquatic ecosystem contamination by PAHs.