Tissue Concentrations of Polybrominated Compounds in Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis): Origin, Hepatic Sequestration, and Maternal Transfer

Abstract

Information on concentrations of polybrominated compounds in various tissues of wild fish is limited. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs), and hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs) were measured in 12 organs and eggs of 17 female Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). The highest concentrations of PBDEs (42.8 ± 39.4 ng/g ww), and MeO-PBDEs (135 ± 63.6 pg/g ww) occurred in adipose followed by liver (PBDEs: 25.0 ± 27.0 ng/g ww, MeO-PBDEs: 32.3 ± 29.1 pg/g ww) and eggs (PBDEs: 21.2 ± 19.4 ng/g ww, MeO-PBDEs: 120 ± 119 pg/g ww), and the highest concentration of OH-PBDEs was observed in liver (185 ± 174 pg/g ww) and eggs (178 ± 294 pg/g ww). The lack of in vitro transformation of 6-MeO-BDE47 or BDE47 by microsomes prepared from Chinese sturgeon liver suggests that most 6-OH-BDE47 was directly accumulated as a natural product. Lipid-normalization revealed preferential accumulation of PBDEs in liver, and ratios of concentrations between eggs and liver were 0.10 ± 0.11 to 0.22 ± 0.26, which was lower than that for MeO-PBDEs (6-MeO-BDE47: 0.57 ± 0.60, 2′-MeO-BDE68: 0.65 ± 0.85) and 6-OH-BDE47 (0.59 ± 0.51). Concentrations of PBDEs were negatively correlated with age, but no significant relationships between concentrations of OH-PBDEs or MeO-PBDEs and age were observed.