Characteristics of bioconcentration and depuration of endocrine disruption chemicals in the flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus, under flow-through system

This study investigated the bioaccumulation effects of endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs) such as Tributyltin (TBT), Nonylphenol (NP) and Bisphenol-A (BPA) on flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus. The exposure experiment with the flow through system was performed to examine the effects of bioconcentration for single or multi-chemicals. In the muscle of flounder exposed to TBT, the concentrations of TBT were significantly increased compared with the control tank after two months. It is markedly more accumulated in the liver of the flounder than in the muscle. TBT in muscle of the low level of EDCs were highly accumulated in single exposures of TBT compared to multi-chemical exposure with NP and/or BPA. The concentrations of TBT in muscle were increased in the multi-chemical exposure system. The concentration of TBT in the liver of flounder showed a slight decrease in the multi-chemical exposure system. The metabolites of TBT, DBT and MBT were also concentrated in the muscle and liver. NP and BPA in the muscle of flounder were accumulated with high concentration of EDCs. NP and BPA in muscle were significantly decreased compared with TBT after the depuration period.