The present study provides the first comprehensive investigation of polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZ) contamination in an aquatic ecosystem. PHCZs have been found in soil and aquatic sediment from several different regions, but knowledge of their bioaccumulation and trophodynamics is extremely scarce. Our work investigated PHCZ contamination in sediment and various organisms, including bivalves, sport fish, harbor seals, and bird eggs, in San Francisco Bay. The median concentrations of ΣPHCZs were 9.3 ng/g dry weight in sediment and ranged from 33.7 to 164 ng/g lipid weight in various species, demonstrating a broad exposure in the Bay ecosystem. Biomagnification was observed from fish to harbor seal, with a biomagnification factor of 3.1. Congener compositions of PHCZs differed among species, suggesting congener-specific bioaccumulation or resistance to metabolism. Comparison with other well-known groups of persistent organic pollutants indicates the substantial abundance of PHCZs in the Bay system. Given that PHCZs may possess the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants with dioxin-like effects and global distributions, further research is needed to better elucidate their sources, environmental behavior, and fate in global environments.

From sediment to top predators: Broad exposure of polyhalogenated carbazoles in San Francisco Bay (U.S.A.)

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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