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Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Bream Abramis brama from the Volga Reach of the Rybinsk Reservoir: Effect of Fish Age and Assessment of Risk to Human Health

  • AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
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Abstract

The bream Abramis brama L. is an important commercial species and is used to monitor the pollution of freshwater bodies with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, the dependence of the content of PCBs on the age of the bream has been studied very poorly. In this regard, the concentrations of 32 PCB congeners have been measured in the carcasses of female bream of different ages in the prespawning period. It is shown that the concentration of PCBs in the body lipids increases from 257 to 449 ng/g over a period of 8 to 19 years. In terms of fresh weight, the content of PCBs first increased from 19.8 ng/g in 8-year-old females to 57.9 ng/g in 13-year-old females and then decreased to 21 ng/g in 19-year-old females. The concentrations of PCBs 5/8, 28, 31, 44, 49, 52, 70/76, and 87/115 do not depend on the age of the fish (R2 < 0.3, p < 0.05). For PCB congeners 74, 95/66, 97, 99, 105, 90/101, 110, and 118, a moderate linear correlation with fish age is found (0.4 < R2 < 0.6, p < 0.05). PCB congeners 138, 153, 180, 183, 128/167, and 170/190 show the strongest linear correlations with bream age (R2 ≥ 0.7, p < 0.05). The largest share in the total amount of PCBs is occupied by 5-CB, from 46 to 58%; then by 6-CB, from 17 to 29%; and by 4-CB, from 12 to 18%. With age, the congener composition changes towards an increase in highly chlorinated PCBs. The content of PCBs in the carcass of bream of the Volga Reach of the Rybinsk Reservoir does not exceed the existing maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) in Russia in fish, amounting to 2 mg/kg of raw weight. The average indicator of noncarcinogenic risk exceeds 1 (0.82–2.39), which indicates the possible development of noncarcinogenic diseases in target organs and systems. The indicator of carcinogenic risk exceeds the level of negligible risk (1 × 10–6) and corresponds to range 2—the maximum permissible risk or the upper limit of acceptable risk (1 × 10–6–1 × 10–4). These risks are subject to constant monitoring, and it is recommended that the population limit its consumption of large fish with a high fat content.

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Notes

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank a reviewer for great work on the manuscript and valuable comments.

Funding

This study was carried out as part of State Task no. ААА-А18-118012690123-4 and Project 0284-2021-0003.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Nekouzskii raion, Yaroslavl oblast, Russia

    A. V. German

  2. Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia

    A. A. Mamontov & E. A. Mamontova

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  1. A. V. German
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Correspondence to A. V. German.

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Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Translated by V. Mittova

Abbreviations: BS, bottom sediments; PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls.

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German, A.V., Mamontov, A.A. & Mamontova, E.A. Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Bream Abramis brama from the Volga Reach of the Rybinsk Reservoir: Effect of Fish Age and Assessment of Risk to Human Health. Inland Water Biol 16, 377–384 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995082923020074

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