Evaluation of biomarker variability in fish exposed to polycyclic aromatic compounds at marine sites

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) and hepatic polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC)-derived DNA adducts, which measure PAC metabolites, are effective for assessing PAC exposure. In this field validation study, these biomarkers were used to assess PAC exposure in Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), hardhead catfish (Arius felis), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) at sites along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. The biomarker results were compared to PAC concentrations present in sediments. The findings showed that site analyses based on either DNA adducts or biliary FACs had significantly lower coefficients of variation than did the sediment chemistry results indicating these biomarkers were more sensitive in detecting site contamination differences. The low concordance between these three measures observed at some sites could be explained by differences in the toxicokinetics of PAC-DNA adducts and FACs in fish. At sites where multiple species were sampled, species differences were also observed in biomarker responses. In conclusion, the information from the three parameters was needed to assess both the levels of PAC exposure risks experienced by fish and temporal patterns of exposure.