Bile metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a biomarker of pollution in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from German rivers

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their metabolites are important environmental contaminants that may lead to increased levels of neoplastic aberrations or tumours in fish liver. Therefore, PAHs and their metabolites in fish bile can be used as biomarkers of PAH exposure in the aquatic environment. The aim of the present study was to examine PAH metabolites in the bile of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from 12 rivers in Germany to investigate the concentrations of PAH metabolites and to elucidate spatial differences. In total, 180 yellow eels (15 eels per river) were collected at downstream sites of the rivers Rhine, Elbe, Havel, Oder, Uecker, Weser, Ems, Schlei, Trave, Eider, Warnow, and Peene in 2009. The deconjugated PAH metabolites in the eel bile were analysed using HPLC with fluorescence detection and normalized to bile pigments. Three PAH metabolites were quantified: metabolites of pyrene, phenanthrene, and benzopyrene. Concentrations of PAH metabolites varied significantly between the rivers. For example, we determined low PAH metabolite concentrations for the Rhine and the Uecker, moderate levels of contamination for the Elbe and the Oder, and a significant accumulation of biliary PAH metabolites in eels from the Trave compared with eel bile from the Uecker and the Rhine. This study presents the first comprehensive investigation of PAH pollution in eels from German rivers and could help to discuss stock assessment of European eel in the light of spawner quality.