Bioaccumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds in fish with different feeding habits along the largest subtropical river, China

Abstract

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are becoming an increasing concern regarding bioaccumulation in aquatic biota. However, the effects of regional pollution levels and specific feeding habits on the bioaccumulation of EDCs in fish are rarely reported. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) were determined in abiotic compartments [water, sediment, suspended particulate matter (SPM)] and fish with different feeding habits along the Pearl River, China. EDCs in abiotic compartments exhibited significant (p < 0.05) spatial variations, forming five zones clustered based on site-specific EDC concentrations. 4-NP was the dominant compound, contributing 58-98% of the EDCs in fish, followed by BPA (<41%), 4-t-OP (<13%), and TCC and TCS (<4.7%). The concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP, BPA, and TCC and TCS were the highest in brackish carnivorous, planktivorous, and detritivorous fish, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) showed that 4-NP accumulated (BAF > 5000) in all fish except for suck-feeding detritivores, while 4-t-OP and TCC accumulated in filter-feeding planktivores. The concentration of 4-NP in carnivores was significantly higher than that in detritivores, indicating the potential biomagnification of 4-NP along food chains. EDCs in sediment and SPM and those in water were most positively correlated with those in detritivores and planktivores, respectively, suggesting the potential of fish with these two feeding habits to act as bioindicators of EDC pollutants.

Keywords: Biocide; Carnivorous fish; Detritivorous fish; Molluscivorous fish; Pearl river; Planktivorous fish; Xenoestrogen.