Liver bioaccumulation

To assess bioaccumulation in the environment, the levels of trichloroethylene in the tissues of a wide range of organisms were determined (Pearson and McConnell 1975). Species were chosen to represent several trophic levels in the marine environment. The maximum overall increase in concentration between sea water and the tissues of animals at the top of food chains, such as fish liver, sea bird eggs, and sea seal blubber, was less... 

Mackey, E.A., P.R. Becker, R. Demiralp, R.R. Greenberg, B J. Koster, and S.A. Wise. 1996. Bioaccumulation of vanadium and other trace metals in livers of Alaskan cetaceans and pinnipeds. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 30 503-512. 

Bengeri, K.V. and H.S. Patil. 1986. Respiration, liver glycogen and bioaccumulation in Labeo mhita exposed to zinc. Indian Jour. Comp. Anim. Physiol. 4 79-84. 

Devineau, J. and C. Amiard Triquet 1985. Patterns of bioaccumulation of an essential trace element (zinc) and a pollutant metal (cadmium) in larvae of the prawn Palaemon serratus. Mar. Biol. 86 139-143. Dib, A., J.P Clavel, and J.P. Carreau. 1989. Effects of gamma-linolenic acid supplementation on lipid composition of liver microsomal membranes. I. Pregnant rats fed a zinc-deficient diet and those fed a balanced one. Jour. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 6 95-102. 

Leatherland, J.F., R.A. Sonstegard, and M.V. Holdrient. 1979. Effect of dietary mirex and PCB s on hepato-somatic index, liver lipid, carcass lipid and PCB and mirex bioaccumulation in yearling coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 63C 243-246. 

In this respect it is also interesting to note that in bioaccumulation it is found that the concentration of toxicant in the tissues and particularly in some of its organs such as kidney, liver and opercle, increases with both concentration in the water and exposure time. Measurement of toxicant levels in tissues or organs provide an indication of the amount of exposure to toxicants that the creature has suffered over a period of time. Only limited information is yet available relating concentrations of toxicant in tissues and the onset of ill health or mortality. This is clearly an area where much further work remains to be done. 

Diphenhydramine, diltiazem, carbamazepine and norfluoxetine have been reported simultaneously in the same wild fish [107]. Moreover, diclofenac was found accumulating in vultures [119], fluoxetine, sertraline and the SSRl metabolites norfluoxetine and desmethylsertraUne were detected in fish [120]. Diclofenac bioaccumulation factors were 10-2,700 in the liver of fish and 5-1,000 in the kidney, depending on exposure concentrations [40, 121]. Gemfibrozil occurred in blood plasma of goldfish after exposure over 14 days at 113 times higher levels than in water [40]. 

Food Chain Bioaccumulation. Bioconcentration factors have been determined for algae, shellfish, and fish and exhibit a wide range (29-17,000) (ERA 1976 Oliver and Niimi 1983 Pearson and McConnell 1975). This wide range may be explained in part by species differences in metabolism or differences in concentrations tested. Studies also indicate that hexachlorobutadiene preferentially accumulates in the livers of fish. Further studies which might explain the wide range of BCF values would be helpful. No information was located regarding the bioaccumulation of hexachlorobutadiene in plants or aquatic organisms. More information is needed to determine the importance of terrestrial/aquatic food chain bioaccumulation as a potential human exposure pathway. 

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