First assessment of persistent organic pollutants and halogenated natural compounds in an omnivorous resident coral-reef fish species, black triggerfish, Melichthys niger, from an Atlantic oceanic island, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

Studies on the occurrence of POPs and other persistent compounds in pristine areas are extremely valuable, as they offer insights on the long-range transportation of POPs and the occurrence of natural compound producers' areas. In this regard, this study aimed to report data of both anthropogenic (polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) and natural (methoxylated PBDEs, MeO-BDEs) compounds in tissues of the black triggerfish, Melichthys niger (Tetraodontiformes, Balistidae), specimens (n = 30) sampled in 2018 during a scientific expedition conducted at Trindade Island. Concentrations of ∑28PCBs ranged from 73 to 1052 ng g-1 lw in liver, 334 to 1981 ng g-1 lw in gonads, and 20 to 257 ng g-1 lw in muscle, with the predominance of PCB-180 in liver and PCB-52 in gonad and muscle. Concentrations of ∑7PBDEs ranged from liver, muscle, and they were < LOD in gonads. The BDE-47 was the most representative congener detected in liver and muscle. Mean concentrations of ∑8MeO-BDEs were 270 ng g-1 lw, 442 ng g-1 lw, and 70 ng g-1 lw in liver, gonad, and muscle, respectively. The 2-MeO-BDE-68 was the most representative congener among MeO-BDEs. The mobilization of lower chlorinated PCBs from liver to other tissues, with possible retention of higher chlorinated PCBs in liver, can be a factor of concern considering the chronic exposure of those fish. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in fish from remote environments were reported in a low number of studies worldwide. Considering that remote sites face environmental pollution either directly by anthropogenic influence or by long-range transportation, more studies on the occurrence of persistent compounds in these environments are paramount, and it is fundamental to understand the dispersion and accumulation of POPs.