TY - JOUR

T1 - Brominated flame retardants and Dechloranes in European and American eels from glass to silver life stages

AU - Sühring, Roxana

AU - Byer, Jonathan D.

AU - Freese, Marko

AU - Pohlmann, Jan Dag

AU - Wolschke, Hendrik

AU - Möller, A.

AU - Hodson, Peter V.

AU - Alaee, Mehran

AU - Hanel, Reinhold

AU - Ebinghaus, Ralf

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - The populations of American (. Anguilla rostrata) and European eels (. Anguilla anguilla) have been declining rapidly in the last decades. Organic contaminants are suspected to be one of the possible causes for the decline; however, so far there have been few investigations of the uptake of specific compounds by different life cycle stages (e.g. freshwater or marine stage) and how the contamination patterns develop throughout the eel's life cycle. In the present study we measured concentrations of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), alternate brominated flame retardants (alternate BFRs) and Dechloranes (Decs) in different life stages of European and American eels to compare the contamination patterns and their development throughout the eel's life cycle.In general, concentrations of flame retardants (FRs) were similar to or higher in American than in European eels, and a greater number of FRs were detected. PBDE congeners that are characteristic of the Penta-PBDE formulation were the most abundant FRs in all adult eels as well as American glass eels. In European glass eels the alternate BFR 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenylether (DPTE) and Dechlorane Plus were the dominating FRs, with average concentrations of 1.1±0.31ngg -1ww and up to 0.32ngg -1ww respectively. Of the PBDEs BDE-183 was the most abundant congener in European glass eels. Low concentrations (less than 10% of the total contamination) of Tetra and Penta-PBDEs in juvenile European eels indicated that bans of technical Penta-PBDE in the European Union are effective. Enrichment of PBDEs was observed over the life stages of both European and American eels. However, a greater relative contribution of PBDEs to the sum FR contamination in American eels indicated an on-going exposure to these substances. High contributions of alternate BFRs in juvenile eels indicated an increased use of these substances in recent years. Concentrations seemed to be driven primarily by location, rather than life stage or age.

AB - The populations of American (. Anguilla rostrata) and European eels (. Anguilla anguilla) have been declining rapidly in the last decades. Organic contaminants are suspected to be one of the possible causes for the decline; however, so far there have been few investigations of the uptake of specific compounds by different life cycle stages (e.g. freshwater or marine stage) and how the contamination patterns develop throughout the eel's life cycle. In the present study we measured concentrations of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), alternate brominated flame retardants (alternate BFRs) and Dechloranes (Decs) in different life stages of European and American eels to compare the contamination patterns and their development throughout the eel's life cycle.In general, concentrations of flame retardants (FRs) were similar to or higher in American than in European eels, and a greater number of FRs were detected. PBDE congeners that are characteristic of the Penta-PBDE formulation were the most abundant FRs in all adult eels as well as American glass eels. In European glass eels the alternate BFR 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenylether (DPTE) and Dechlorane Plus were the dominating FRs, with average concentrations of 1.1±0.31ngg -1ww and up to 0.32ngg -1ww respectively. Of the PBDEs BDE-183 was the most abundant congener in European glass eels. Low concentrations (less than 10% of the total contamination) of Tetra and Penta-PBDEs in juvenile European eels indicated that bans of technical Penta-PBDE in the European Union are effective. Enrichment of PBDEs was observed over the life stages of both European and American eels. However, a greater relative contribution of PBDEs to the sum FR contamination in American eels indicated an on-going exposure to these substances. High contributions of alternate BFRs in juvenile eels indicated an increased use of these substances in recent years. Concentrations seemed to be driven primarily by location, rather than life stage or age.

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Ecosystems Research

KW - Alternate BFRs

KW - American eel

KW - Brominated flame retardants

KW - Dechloranes

KW - European eel

KW - PBDEs

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894040349&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.096

DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.096

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 24290300

VL - 116

SP - 104

EP - 111

JO - Chemosphere

JF - Chemosphere

SN - 0045-6535

ER -