Abstract
Fish (Notothenia gibberifrons) collected in pristine Antarctic sites were injected with Diesel Fuel Arctic (DFA). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites obtained from hydrolyzed fish bile. The concentrations of naphthols (NPH), phenanthrenols (PHN), dibenzothiophenols (DBT), and total PAH metabolites (∑PAH) vary with time. The response curve (production of PAH metabolites vs. time) resembled a Sigmoid curve, with an initial low response at 24 h followed by a rapid rise in production of PAH metabolites (55.74 μg/g) 120 h after exposure to DFA. PAH metabolites identified include NPH, PHN, and DBT and their alkylated derivatives, reflecting the composition of the DFA to which the fish were exposed. The GC/MS technique is highly sensitive, particularly in the detection of multi-ring PAH metabolites. The results suggest that analysis of PAH metabolites is a valuable tool for environmental monitoring and assessment of exposure to petroleum.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
DiGiovanni J, Juchau MR (1980) Biotransformation and bioactivation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (7,12 DMBA). Drug Metab Rev 11:61–101
Hellou J, Payne JF (1978) Assessment of contamination of fish by water-soluble fractions of petroleum: A role for bile metabolites. Arch Enviroin Contam Toxicol 6:857–862
Jacob J, Grimmer G (1985) Capillary gas chromatographical analysis and mass spectrometric identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites from biological materials. In: Cook M, Dennis AJ (eds) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons: Formation metabolism and measurement, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, pp 49–89
Kennucitt MC II, Sweet ST, Fraser WR, Stockton WL, Culver M (1991) Grouding of the Bahia Paraiso at Arthur Harbor, Antarctica. I. Distribution and fate of oil spill related hydrocarbons. Environ Sci Technol 25:509–518
Kennicutt MC II, McDonald TJ, Denoux GJ, McDonald SJ (1992) Hydrocarbon contamination on the Antarctic Peninsula I. Arthur Harbor—Subtidal sediments. Marine Pollut Biol 24(10):499–506
Krahn MM, Burrows DG, Ylitalo GM, Brown DW, Wigrin CA, Collier TK, Chan S-L, Varanasi U (1992) Mass spectrometric analysis for aromatic compounds in bile of fish sampled after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Environ Sci Technol 26:116–126
Livingston DR (1993) Biotechnology and pollution monitoring: Use of molecular biomarkers in the aquatic environment. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 57:195–211
McDonald SJ, Kennicutt MC II, Brooks JM (1992) Evidence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in fish from the Antarctic Peninsula. Marine Pollut Biol 25(9–12):313–317
Stein JE, Hom T, Varanasi U (1984) Simultaneous exposure of English sole (Parophrys vetulus) to sediment-associated xenobiotics: Part I—Uptake and disposition of 14C-polychlorinated biphenyls and 3H-benzo[a]yrene. Mar Environ Res 13:97–119
Takahashi G, Kinoshita K, Hashimoto K, Yasuhira K (1979) Identification of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Cancer Res 39:1814–1818
Varanasi U, Gmur DH (1980) Metabolic activation and covalent binding of benzo[a]pyrene to deoxyribonucleic acid catalyzed by liver enzymes of marine fish. Biochem Pharmacol 29:753–758
Varanasi U, Gmur DH (1981) Hydrocarbons and metabolites in English sole (Parophrys vetulus) exposed simultaneously to [3H] benzo[a]pyrene and [14C] naphthalene in oil-contaminated sediment. Aquat Toxicol 1:49–53
Yu Y (1994) Gas chroamtography/mass spectrometry detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in fish and its application in environmental studies. PhD Dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, Y., Wade, T.L., Fang, J. et al. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in Antarctic fish (Notothenia gibberifrons) injected with Diesel Fuel Arctic. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 29, 241–246 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212975
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212975