Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in bib (Trisopterus luscus) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) from the Western Scheldt and the Belgian North Sea: distribution and biochemical effects

Abstract

A biomonitoring campaign was conducted in the Belgian North Sea and in the Western Scheldt (The Netherlands) with the primary goal to assess perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) contamination and distribution in different biota. This study covers the results obtained for bib (Trisopterus luscus) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and includes the assessment of some stress-related biochemical endpoints. Analysis of liver and muscle PFOS concentrations of both species provided evidence for the existence of a PFOS pollution gradient along the Western Scheldt with higher levels at the upstream locations and a lower degree of PFOS pollution at the marine locations. Cellular necrosis was studied by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the serum. Serum ALT but not serum AST was shown to correlate positively with the PFOS liver concentration in bib (r = 0.44, p < 0.05), indicating that PFOS might contribute to the induction of hepatic damage in bib in the area of study. Analysis of total carbohydrate, lipid, and protein content of bib liver tissue revealed a positive correlation between the protein content and the PFOS liver concentration (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). Whether this is due to induction of compensatory mechanisms, detoxification, or repair processes remains unclear.