Studies on the Toxicological Effects of PFOA and PFOS on Rats Using Histological Observation and Chemical Analysis

As an emerging class of environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), especially perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been ubiquitously found in the environment. Increasing evidence shows that the accumulated levels of PFCs in animals and the human body might cause potential impairment to their health. In the present study, toxicological effects of PFOA and PFOS on male Sprague–Dawley rats were examined after 28 days of subchronic exposure. Abnormal behavior and sharp weight loss were observed in the high-dose PFOS group. Marked hepatomegaly, renal hypertrophy, and orchioncus in treated groups were in accordance with the viscera–somatic indexes of the liver, kidney, and gonad. Histopathological observation showed that relatively serious damage occurred in the liver and lung, mainly including hepatocytic hypertrophy and cytoplasmic vacuolation in the livers and congestion and thickened epithelial walls in the lungs. PFOA concentrations in main target organs were in the order of kidney > liver > lung > (heart, whole blood) > testicle > (spleen, brain), whereas the bioaccumulation order for PFOS was liver > heart > kidney > (whole blood) > lung > (testicle, spleen, brain). The highest concentration of PFOA detected in the kidney exposed to 5 mg/kg/day was 228 ± 37 μg/g and PFOS in the liver exposed to 20 mg/kg/day reached the highest level of 648 ± 17 μg/g, indicating that the liver, lung, and kidney might serve as the main target organs for PFCs. Furthermore, a dose-dependent accumulation of PFOS in various tissues was found. The accumulation levels of PFOS were universally higher than PFOA, which might explain the relative high toxicity of PFOS. The definite toxicity and high accumulation of the tested PFCs might pose a great threat to biota and human beings due to their widespread application in various fields.     

Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate in Two Fish Species Collected from the Roter Main River,Bayreuth, Germany

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are widely distributed in the environment. In this study the accumulation potential of PFOA and PFOS in two fish species with different feeding strategies, i.e. chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and river goby (Gobio gobio) inhabiting a river receiving treated waste waters from a municipal waste water treatment plant, were estimated. PFOS was detected in chub (7–250 μg kg⁻¹ wet weight) and river goby (70–400 μg kg⁻¹ wet weight) with bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of 4600 (liver) and 11,000 (organs). PFOA concentrations in both fish were low and in chub mostly below detection limit.     

Transplacental exposure of neonates to perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoate: a pilot study

Objectives Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) can be released of perfluorinated compounds by biotic and/or metabolic decomposition. Due to their ubiquitous occurrence, persistence and bioaccumulative properties they can be found in blood of the general population all over the world. In animal studies PFOS and PFOA provoked cancer and showed developmental toxic potential besides other adverse health effects. On the basis of the comparison of maternal and umbilical cord plasma sample pairs we wanted to examine whether infants are exposed to PFOS and PFOA via their mothers’ blood. Methods We determined PFOS and PFOA in 11 plasma samples of mothers and the 11 corresponding cord plasma samples of neonates. An analytical method based on plasma protein precipitation followed by HPLC with MS/MS-detection was employed. As internal standards we used 1,2,3,4-¹³C₄-PFOS and 1,2-¹³C₂-PFOA. Results We found PFOS and PFOA in every plasma sample analysed. In maternal plasma samples PFOS concentrations were consistently higher compared to those of the related cord plasma samples (median: 13.0 μg/l vs. 7.3 μg/l). In the case of PFOA we observed only minor differences between PFOA concentrations within the analysed sample pairs (median: 2.6 μg/l vs. 3.4 μg/l for maternal and cord plasma samples, respectively). Discussion For both substances a crossing of the placental barrier could be shown. For PFOS we observed a decrease from maternal to cord plasma concentrations by a factor of 0.41–0.80. To the contrary, PFOA crosses the placental barrier obviously unhindered. These findings show that neonates are exposed to PFOS and PFOA via their mothers’ blood. Given the current situation that only little is known about the consequences of PFOS and PFOA exposure in the early state of development of humans and the fact that in animal studies both substances showed developmental toxic effects further research regarding human health effects is indispensable.     

Transfer of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) From Contaminated Feed Into Milk and Meat of Sheep: Pilot Study

A pilot study was performed with dairy sheep to generate the first data on the transfer of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from feed into food of animal origin. Corn silage was cultivated on cropland in Lower Saxony in Germany where, as a result of illegal waste disposal in 2006, farmland was contaminated with perfluorinated alkylacids (PFAAs). Two sheep were exposed by way of PFAA-contaminated corn silage to PFOS (1.16 and 1.45 μg/kg body weight [bw]/d, respectively) and PFOA (0.43 and 0.53 μg/kg bw/d) during a period of 21 days. During the PFAA-feeding period, PFOS levels in plasma increased continuously to maximum concentration of 103 and 240 μg/L for sheep 1 and sheep 2, respectively. The PFOA plasma concentration remained low (sheep 1 = 3.3 ± 2.2 μg/L; sheep 2 = 15.6 ± 8.3 μg/L). Data indicate that urinary excretion is the primary clearance route for PFOA (sheep 1 = 51 %; sheep 2 = 55 %), whereas PFOS excretion by way of urine could not be quantified. The highest PFOS excretion (4 to 5 %) was detected in faeces. PFOS was also excreted at higher levels than PFOA by way of milk. During a period of 21 days, a total PFOS transfer into milk ≤ 2 % was calculated. Overall, total excretion of PFOS was significantly lower compared with that of PFOA (PFOS 6 %; PFOA 53 to 56 %). PFOS levels in sheep 1 and sheep 2 were highest in liver (885 and 1,172 μg/kg weight wet [ww], respectively) and lowest in muscle tissue (24.4 and 35.1 μg/kg ww, respectively). PFOA levels in muscle tissue were low for sheep 2 (0.23 μg/kg ww) and not detectable after the PFAA-free feeding period in sheep 1. A slight background load of PFOS in liver (1.5 μg/kg ww) and kidney (0.3 μg/kg ww) was detected in sheep 3 (control).     

Occurrence of perfluorinated substances in an adult German population in southern Bavaria

Objectives Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a large group of chemicals produced for several decades and widely used for many industrial and consumer applications. Because of their global occurrence in different environmental media, their persistence, and their potential to bioaccumulate in organisms they are of toxicological and public concern. Methods In the present study, the internal exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 356 human plasma samples collected from an adult population in Germany in 2005 is quantified. Results We were able to detect the target analytes in all plasma samples and observed a significant correlation between the PFOS and PFOA concentrations. In female participants, the levels of PFOS and PFOA ranged between 2.5–30.7 (median: 10.9 μg/l) and 1.5–16.2 μg/l (median: 4.8 μg/l), respectively. In males we observed concentrations from 2.1 to 55.0 μg/l (median: 13.7 μg/l) for PFOS and from 0.5 to 19.1 μg/l (median: 5.7 μg/l) for PFOA. A significant correlation between both PFOS and PFOA concentrations and gender was observed. We also found increased levels of the PFCs with increasing age of the participants, but this association reached statistical significance among females only. Conclusions Our data agree well with results of other recent studies in Europe and suggest that the current exposure of the adult German population is lower than the exposure of the US and Canadian population. The sources of human exposure are currently not well understood. Toxicological implications are restricted to animal studies and occupational investigations not adequate for quantitative risk assessment in humans. Overall, more scientific research is necessary to characterize the body burden of PFCs (especially for relevant subsets of the population) and the main sources and routes, which are responsible for human exposure and possible health implications of these compounds.     

Biochemical Responses and Accumulation Properties of Long-Chain Perfluorinated Compounds (PFOS/PFDA/PFOA) in Juvenile Chickens (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gallus gallus</Emphasis>)

One-day-old male chickens were exposed via oral gavage to mixtures of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) at either a low dose (0.1 mg/kg body weight [b.w.]) or a high dose (1.0 mg/kg b.w.), or a saline/ethanol vehicle control, three times a week for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks of exposure, half of the chicks were sacrificed and the other half were allowed to depurate for a further 3 weeks. No dose-dependent statistically significant differences in body/organ weights were observed among treatment and control groups after 3 weeks of exposure or after three 3 of depuration. Neither 15 histological nor 14 measured plasma biochemical parameters were significantly different in chicks from the exposed groups and vehicle controls. PFOS, PFDA, and PFOA concentrations in blood/liver/kidney samples were measured throughout the exposure and depuration periods at different time intervals. PFOS and PFDA accumulated at much higher concentrations than PFOA during the experimental periods. Interestingly, PFOS and PFDA accumulation patterns in the blood were similar during the exposure and depuration periods. The half-lives for each PFC at the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg doses were, respectively, approximately 15 and 17 days for PFOS, 11 and 16 days for PFDA, and 3.9 and 3.9 days for PFOA. PFDA accumulation in organs was greater than or similar to that of PFOS: the liver was the main target during exposure and the blood was the main reservoir during depuration. These results indicate that exposure to a 1.0-mg mixture of PFOS/PFDA/PFOA/kg b.w. has no adverse effect on juvenile chickens.     

Perfluorinated Compounds in River Water, River Sediment, Market Fish, and Wildlife Samples from Japan

Perfluorinated organic compounds (PFCs) such as PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, PFH×S, PFOSA and PFDoA were determined in river water, river sediment, liver of market fish and liver of wildlife samples from Japan. Concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in water samples were 7.9–110 and <5.2–10 ng/L. Only PFOA were detected in sediment from Kyoto river at 1.3–3.9 ng/g dry wt. Among fish, only jack mackerel showed PFOA and PFOS at 10 and 1.6 ng/g wet wt. Wildlife liver contained PFOSA, PFOS, PFDoA, PFOA and PFH×S in the range of 0.31–362, 0.15–238, <0.03–28, >0.07–7.3 and <0.03–1.5, respectively, on ng/g wet wt. Cormorants showed maximum accumulation followed by eagle, raccoon dog and large-billed crow.     

Seasonal Changes of PFOS and PFOA Concentrations in Lake Biwa Water

A survey on seasonal concentration changes of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was performed for surface water in Lake Biwa (14 sites) from February to November in 2009. The concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 0.8–1.6 and 7.0–10 ng/L in northern basin of Lake Biwa (eight sites), 0.9–1.7 and 8.3–13 ng/L in southern basin of Lake Biwa except Akanoi Bay (four sites), 1.4–2.8 and 9.1–17 ng/L in Akanoi Bay (8C) and 2.4–5.3 and 12–26 ng/L in Akanoi Bay (168), respectively. Seasonal changes were recognized for both of PFOS and PFOA in the two sites of Akanoi Bay but not in the other sites of the southern and northern basins of Lake Biwa. Monthly detailed surveys in the surface water were performed on the changes of PFOS and PFOA concentrations from June in 2009 to May in 2010 and further on the changes of conductivity values. The changes of PFOS and PFOA concentrations were well consistent with those of conductivity values.     

Negative results of<Emphasis Type="Italic">umu</Emphasis> genotoxicity test of fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluorinated alkyl acids

Objectives  Recently, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) has been ubiquitously detected in the environment as well as in human serum. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), a precursor of PFOA, undergo biodegradation via several metabolic routes which leads to formation of various biodegradation products. The degradation of FTOHs produces an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde that seems possibly to be electrophilic and may react with cellular macromolecules including DNA. Methods  We investigated the genotoxicity of three FTOHs (6∶2 FTOH, 8∶2 FTOH and 10∶2 FTOH), PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) using theumu test. Results  The FTOHs, PFOA and PFOS showed no significant increases in β-galactosidase activity at 0–1000 μM in the absence of S9 mix. The results were unchanged by the metabolic activation with S9 mix. Conclusion  The genotoxicities of FTOHs, PFOA or PFOS are not detectable using the present method, suggesting that they are unlikely mutagens.     

Risk Assessment of Residual DDTs in Freshwater and Marine Fish Cultivated Around the Pearl River Delta, China

Six species of freshwater fish collected from 10 fishponds in Shunde and Zhongshan, China, four species of marine fishes collected from different mariculture farms [four in Hong Kong (Tung Lung Chau, Ma Wan, Cheung Chau and Kat O) and two in mainland China (Daya Bay and Shenzhen)] together with feed (both trash fish and commercial pellets) and sediment were analyzed for DDTs. Total DDTs in freshwater fish flesh decreased in the order of: carnivores [1742 μg/kg lipid weight (l.w.)] > herbivores (165 μg/kg, l.w.) > omnivores (42.5 μg/kg, l.w.), with the highest concentration detected in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) (2641 μg/kg, l.w.). For marine fish, snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii) and orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) collected in Ma Wan contained elevated levels of total DDTs (2590 and 2034 μg/kg l.w., respectively). Trash fish used in both freshwater and marine fish farms contained significantly higher levels (86.5–641 μg/kg l.w.) (p < 0.05) of DDTs than in commercial pellets, but correlations between DDT levels in fish feed and muscle were not significant. The elevated biota-sediment accumulating factor for tilapia (Tilapia mossambicus) (24.1) indicated that accumulation of DDTs from sediment to the fish was evident. It can be concluded that trash fish should not be used for fish culture in order to lower the level of residual DDTs in fish muscle.     

Occurrence of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Fish and Water from the Svitava and Svratka Rivers,Czech Republic

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFHxS, FHUEA, PFOA, PFOS, FOSA, N-methyl FOSA and PFNA) from seven sites on the Svitava and Svratka rivers in the Brno conurbation (Czech Republic) were determined in fish blood plasma and water. Concentrations of PFHxS, FHUEA, FOSA, and N-methyl FOSA were below detection limits. Major compound in fish blood was PFOS (38.9–57.8 ng mL⁻¹), followed by PFNA and PFOA. In water, the major compound detected was PFOA (1.7–178.0 ng mL⁻¹), followed by PFOS and PFNA. A significant (p < 0.05) correlation for PFOA concentration in blood plasma and water was found (r = 0.74).     

Excretion of PFOA and PFOS in Male Rats During a Subchronic Exposure

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), a class of synthetic surfactants that are widely used, have become global environmental contaminants because of their high persistence and bioaccumulation. An increasing number of studies have described the pharmacokinetics of PFCs following in vivo exposure, however, few papers have focused on the excretion of these compounds during a period of consecutive exposure. In this study, the excretions of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in male Sprague–Dawley rats gavaged consecutively for 28 days were investigated and compared. The faster elimination rate in urine compared to feces indicated that urinary excretion is the primary clearance route in rats for either PFOA or PFOS. During the first 24 h after administration of PFOA (5 and 20 mg/kg body weight/day), about 24.7–29.6% of the oral dose was excreted through urine and feces, while for PFOS, the excretion amounts were only 2.6–2.8% of the total gavaged doses (5 and 20 mg/kg body weight/day). The excretion rates of both PFCs increased with increasing exposure doses. The higher elimination rate of PFOA through excretion indicated its lower accumulation in rats, thus inducing possible lower toxicities compared to PFOS.     

Perfluoroalkyl acids in children and their mothers: Association with drinking water and time trends of inner exposures—Results of the Duisburg birth cohort and Bochum cohort studies

BackgroundPerfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are widely distributed in the environment and humans are globally exposed with them. Contaminated drinking water can considerably contribute to the inner exposure levels.ObjectivesWe report the results of a human biomonitoring study with mother–child pairs living in two German cities, one city with PFAA contaminated drinking water in the sub μg/l-range (Bochum) and the other one without contamination (Duisburg). Furthermore, we studied time trends of exposure levels within the Duisburg cohort study.MethodsWe measured seven PFAAs (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, PFDeA, PFDoA) in blood samples by high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were taken during pregnancy, from umbilical cord blood (2000–2002), 6–7 years (5th follow-up) and 8–10 years after birth (7th follow-up). The consumption of drinking water was recorded by a standardized questionnaire. Statistical analyses were calculated with multiple linear regression models.ResultsChildren and mothers from Bochum showed higher PFOS and PFOA plasma concentrations than from Duisburg. The median concentrations (μg/l) for children were: PFOS 4.7 vs. 3.3; PFOA 6.0 vs. 3.6 μg/l (p ≤ 0.05). Consumption of >0.7 l (children) and >0.9 l (mothers) drinking water/day was associated with 13–18% higher PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS concentrations in children (p ≤ 0.01), and 22% higher PFOA in mothers (p ≤ 0.05). Within the Duisburg cohort, PFAA levels in children peaked in the 5th follow-up study (medians (μg/l): cord plasma: 2.7 (PFOS); 1.9 (PFOA); 5th follow-up: 3.6 (PFOS); 4.6 (PFOA); 7th follow-up: 3.3 (PFOS); 3.6 (PFOA)). PFOS concentrations in mothers declined from pregnancy to the 5th follow-up (medians: 8.7 vs. 4.0 μg/l).ConclusionResidents exposed to PFOS and PFOA through drinking water showed significantly higher PFOS and PFOA concentrations in blood plasma. Although PFAA concentrations in the children slightly decreased from the 5th to the 7th follow-up, we detected increasing exposure trends with increasing age in the 7th follow-up.     

Levels of Perfluorinated Chemicals in Municipal Drinking Water from Catalonia,Spain: Public Health Implications

In this study, the concentrations of 13 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) (PFBuS, PFHxS, PFOS, THPFOS, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTDA, and PFOSA) were analyzed in municipal drinking water samples collected at 40 different locations from 5 different zones of Catalonia, Spain. Detection limits ranged between 0.02 (PFHxS) and 0.85 ng/L (PFOA). The most frequent compounds were PFOS and PFHxS, which were detected in 35 and 31 samples, with maximum concentrations of 58.1 and 5.30 ng/L, respectively. PFBuS, PFHxA, and PFOA were also frequently detected (29, 27, and 26 samples, respectively), with maximum levels of 69.4, 8.55, and 57.4 ng/L. In contrast, PFDoDA and PFTDA could not be detected in any sample. The most contaminated water samples were found in the Barcelona Province, whereas none of the analyzed PFCs could be detected in two samples (Banyoles and Lleida), and only one PFC could be detected in four of the samples. Assuming a human water consumption of 2 L/day, the maximum daily intake of PFOS and PFOA from municipal drinking water would be, for a subject of 70 kg of body weight, 1.7 and 1.6 ng/kg/day. This is clearly lower than the respective Tolerable Daily Intake set by the European Food Safety Authority. In all samples, PFOS and PFOA also showed lower levels than the short-term provisional health advisory limit for drinking water (200 ng PFOS/L and 400 ng PFOA/L) set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Although PFOS and PFOA concentrations found in drinking water in Catalonia are not expected to pose human health risks, safety limits for exposure to the remaining PFCs are clearly necessary, as health-based drinking water concentration protective for lifetime exposure is set to 40 ng/L for PFOA.     

Occurrence of Perfluoroalkyl Surfactants in Water, Fish, and Birds from New York State

Concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and several other perfluoroalkyl surfactants (PASs) were determined in nine major water bodies (n = 51) of New York State (NYS). These PASs were also measured in the livers of two species of sport fish (n = 66) from 20 inland lakes in NYS. Finally, perfluorinated compounds were measured in the livers of 10 species of waterfowl (n = 87) from the Niagara River region in NYS. PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS) were ubiquitous in NYS waters. PFOA was typically found at higher concentrations than were PFOS and PFHS. Elevated concentrations of PFOS were found in surface waters of Lake Onondaga, and elevated concentrations of PFOA were found in the Hudson River. PFOS was the most abundant perfluorinated compound in all fish and bird samples. PFOS concentrations in the livers of fishes ranged from 9 to 315 ng/g wet weight. PFOS, PFOA, and PFOSA (perfluorooctanesulfonamide) concentrations in smallmouth and largemouth bass (taken together) caught in remote mountain lakes with no known point sources of PAS contamination were 14 to 207, < 1.5 to 6.1, and < 1.5 to 9.8 ng/g wet weight, respectively. PFOS concentrations in the livers of birds ranged from 11 to 882 ng/g wet weight. PFOS concentrations were 2.5-fold greater (p = 0.001) in piscivorous birds than in non-piscivorous birds. However, PFOA, PFOSA, and PFHS were not found in bird livers. Overall, average concentrations of PFOS in fish were 8850-fold greater than those in surface water. An average biomagnification factor of 8.9 was estimated for PFOS in common merganser relative to that in fish. This study highlights the significance of dietary fish in PFOS accumulation in the food chain. Furthermore, our results provide information on the distribution of PASs in natural waters, fish, and several bird species in NYS.     

Pharmacokinetics and Acute Lethality of Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) to Juvenile Mallard and Northern Bobwhite

Ten-day-old mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) were fed perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in their diet for 5 days. The birds were then observed for 3 days while being given uncontaminated feed, and half of the birds were sacrificed on Day 8 of the trial. The remaining birds were maintained for an additional two weeks prior to being euthanized on Day 22 of the trial. Birds were assessed for growth, rate of feed consumption, behavior, physical injury, mortality, and gross abnormalities. Liver weight and concentrations of PFOS in blood serum and liver were also assessed. Based on the average daily intake (ADI) of PFOS calculated over the 5-day exposure period, the LD₅₀ for juvenile mallards was determined to be 150 mg PFOS/kg body weight (bw)/day, equivalent to a total cumulative dose of 750 mg PFOS/kg bw calculated over a 5-day period. For juvenile quail, the LD₅₀ based on the ADI was 61 mg PFOS/kg bw/day, equivalent to a total cumulative dose of 305 mg PFOS/kg bw. Reductions in weight gain and body weight were observed in quail from the 141 mg PFOS/kg treatment, but these measures returned to control levels by Day 22. The no-mortality dietary treatments were 70.3 and 141 mg PFOS/kg feed for quail and mallards, respectively. Both mallards and quail accumulated PFOS in blood serum and liver in a dose-dependent manner. The half-lives of PFOS in mallard blood serum and liver were estimated to be 6.86 and 17.5 days, respectively. In quail, the half-life of PFOS in liver was estimated to be 12.8 days, while the half-life of PFOS in quail blood serum could not be estimated. Concentrations of PFOS in juvenile mallard and quail liver associated with mortality are at least 50-fold greater than the single maximum PFOS concentration that has been measured in livers of avian wildlife.     

Occurrence of Antifouling Biocides and Fluorinated Alkyl Compounds in Sediment Core from Deep Sea: Suruga Bay,Tosa Bay,and Nankai Tough,Japan

Contamination profiles of antifouling biocides were investigated in a deep-sea environment in Suruga Bay Japan. Significant differences in the tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) concentrations in subsurface sediment between 850 and 800 m of water depth were not observed (p < 0.05). Organotin (OT) concentrations in sediment core of 0–30.5 cm from a water depth of 800 m were investigated. The butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PTs) concentrations were constant between 0 and 15 cm, and, subsequently, the concentration of these compounds increased. The peaks of the BTs and PTs concentrations were observed between 18 and 19 cm. The concentrations of Irgarol 1051 decreased until a core depth of 9 cm, and, the values then became near the detection limit under the 10 cm of core depth. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) were detected in the sediment core (0–30.5 cm) of Suruga Bay. The concentration of PFOS was high in the 0–5-cm core depth and then decreased. The concentrations of PFOA, however, were at the values near the detection limit throughout the sediment core. The BTs and PTs concentrations in surface sediment from Tosa Bay decreased with water depth. Although Irgarol 1051 was the only alternative compound detected, the value was near the detection limit. PFOS and PFOA were detected in sediment core from Tosa Bay. The concentrations of PFOS became low as the water depth became deeper. TBT, TPT, Sea Nine 211, Diuron and Irgarol 1051 were detected in sediment core (core depth: 10 cm) from the Nankai trough (water depth: 4010 m).     

Levels of Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) Stranded on the Brazilian Coast

Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) were determined in samples of liver and breast muscles of first-year Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), from two different areas on the Brazilian coast, 35 on the Rio de Janeiro coast and 12 on the Rio Grande do Sul coast. In both areas, Cd concentrations in muscle samples were <0.025 μg/g. However, the Cd and Hg concentrations found in liver and Hg concentrations found in muscle showed a significant difference between the two regions. The geometric mean of the concentrations was higher in the specimens from Rio de Janeiro (Cd—6.8 μg/g; Hg—liver, 1.6 μg/g, and muscle, 0.4 μg/g wet weight) than in those from Rio Grande do Sul (Cd—2.3 μg/g; Hg—liver, 0.9 μg/g, and muscle, 0.1 μg/g wet weight). The site differences could be related to differences in diet influenced by geographic factors. Brazil’s southeastern coast is highly urbanized, and its coastal waters are contaminated by the waste of agricultural and industrial activities. There is a lack of information on the levels of heavy metals in S. magellanicus, however, their wide distribution and top position in the trophic chain make the use of stranded specimens an attractive source of information for monitoring heavy metals in the South Atlantic coast.     

Occurrence of Halogenated Contaminants in Fish from Selected River Localities and Ponds in the Czech Republic

The occurrence of organohalogenated compounds including major persistent chlorinated pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT and its metabolites, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), represented by polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), together with currently widely discussed perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), mainly perfluorooctane sulfonic acid was monitored in several fish species collected from Czech rivers. Eleven sampling locations in highly industrialized areas were chosen. In addition, wild species of 14 farmed fish (grown in dedicated ponds) were also analysed. With respect to the contamination in different areas, chlorinated chemicals were dominant. PCBs and DDTs ranged from 4.8 to 211 and 2 to 791 μg/kg wet weight, respectively. Concentrations of BFRs and PFCs were significantly lower and ranged from 0.6 to 10.2 and 0.9 to 62 μg/kg wet weight, respectively. The highest levels of target analyte groups were found in fish muscle tissue in localities situated on the lower part of the Elbe River: Levels of DDT, HCB, PBDEs, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were as high as 791, 77.6, 14.4 and 193 μg/kg wet weight, respectively, in Usti nad Labem and in the sample originated from the confluence of Elbe with Bilina River; a sum of PCBs at a level of 211 μg/kg was detected.     

Contamination Profiles of Antifouling Biocides in Selected Coastal Regions of Malaysia

The concentrations of butyltins (BTs) in sediment from Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca and their spatial distribution are discussed. The concentrations of BTs were high in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia where there is a lot of ship traffic, because trade is prosperous. The concentrations of monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and tributyltin (TBT) in sediment from the coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia were in the range 4.1–242 μg/kg dry weight (dw), 1.1–186 μg/kg dw, and 0.7–228 μg/kg dw, respectively. A higher percentage of TBT was observed in the area where TBT concentrations were high. The concentrations of monophenyltin (MPT), diphenyltin (DPT), and triphenyltin (TPT) were in the range <0.1–121 μg/kg dw, 0.4–27 μg/kg dw, and 0.1–34 μg/kg dw in sediment from Peninsular Malaysia, respectively. MPT was the dominant phenyltin species. MBT, DBT, and TBT in green mussel (Perna viridis) samples were detected in the range 41–102 μg/kg, 3–5 μg/kg, and 8–32 μg/kg, respectively. A tolerable average residue level (TARL) was estimated at 20.4 μg/kg from a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.25 μg TBTO/kg body weight/day. The maximum value of TBT detected in green mussel samples was the value near the TARL. TPTs were not detected in green mussel samples. The concentrations of Diuron and Irgarol 1051 in sediment from Peninsular Malaysia were in the range <0.1–5 μg/kg dw and <0.1–14 μg/kg dw, respectively. High concentrations of these compounds were observed in locations where the concentrations of TBT were high. Sea Nine 211, Dichlofluanid, and Pyrithiones were not detected in sediment. The concentrations of antifouling biocides in Melaka and the Strait of Johor were investigated in detail. BTs were found in similar concentrations among all sampling sites from Melaka, indicating that BT contamination spread off the coast. However, Sea Nine 211, Diuron, and Irgarol 1051 in the sediment from Melaka were high at the mouth of the river. BT concentrations at the Strait of Johor were higher than those in Peninsular Malaysia and Melaka and were high at the narrowest locations with poor flushing of water. The concentrations of antifouling biocides were compared among Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. A higher concentration and wide variations of TBT and TPT in sediment from Malaysia were observed among these countries. The Irgarol 1051 concentrations in sediment from Malaysia were higher than those in Thailand and Vietnam.