Associations between liver lesions in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) and sediment chemical contaminants from north-east United States estuaries

Neoplastic diseases, particularly of bottom-dwelling fishes, are more prevalent in coastal areas than in areas that are relatively pristine. Although sediments in many urbanized estuaries contain high concentrations of contaminants, there is little evidence linking a specific organic or inorganic chemical to a particular liver lesion in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus), despite increasing study in recent years. Between 1984 and 1986, sediments and winter flounder were collected from 10 sites in the north-east United States ranging from grossly polluted to relatively unimpacted. Sediments were analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals. Gross and microscopic pathological examinations were conducted on winter flounder liver sections. Factor and canonical correlation analyses were used to explore associations between biological and chemical measurements. Hepatitis, cholangitis, phlebitis, and macro-phage aggregate hyperplasia showed positive associations with low molecular weight, petroleum-derived PAHs (naphthalene, anthracene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, bi-phenyl, fluorene, and 1-methylphenanthrene), the pesticides lindane, hexachloro-benzene, heptachlor epoxide, and o,p′-DDD, tri- to hexachlorobiphenyls, and chromium, cadmium, lead, thallium, and selenium, but were negatively associated with the pesticides o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, and mirex. Cytoplasmic hepatocellular vacuolation, cytoplasmic bile duct vacuolation, neoplasms, and pre-neoplasms showed positive associations with most PAHs measured, whether petroleum-derived or combustion-derived (benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, di-benzo[a,h]anthracene, perylene, chrysene, and fluoranthene), the pesticides dieldrin, trans-nonachlor and alpha-chlordane, and silver, copper, antimony, and tin, but no associations with PCBs were found. Coagulative necrosis, single cell necrosis and haemorrhagic necrosis showed positive associations with hepta- to nona-chlorobiphenyls and arsenic, zinc, nickel, and mercury, and negative associations with high molecular weight, combustion-derived PAHs and DDT compounds and metabolites.