Bile metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in European eels Anguilla anguilla from United Kingdom estuaries

A total of 94 European eels ( Anguilla anguilla) were collected from five estuaries in the UK. The deconjugated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the bile of the eels were separated using HPLC. Six PAH metabolites were identified: 1-hydroxy (1-OH) metabolites of phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene; and the 1-OH, 3-OH and 7,8 dihydrodiol metabolites of benzo[ a]pyrene (BaP). The mean concentration of the six metabolites was greatest in eels from the Tyne (49 μM) followed by the Wear (33 μM), Tees (19 μM), Thames (4 μM) and Severn (2 μM) estuaries. Although 1-OH pyrene was always the dominant compound, there were significant differences ( P