One Health Assessment of Persistent Organic Chemicals and PFAS for Consumption of Restored Anadromous Fish
Background: Restoration efforts have led to the return of anadromous fish, a potential source of food for the Penobscot Indian Nation, to the previously dammed Penobscot River, Maine.
Objective: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Penobscot Indian Nation’s Department of Natural Resources (PINDNR) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), assessed the risk of human and wildlife consumption of six species of anadromous fish: Alewife, American Shad, Blueback Herring, Rainbow Smelt, Striped Bass, and Sea Lamprey plus roe from American Shad located in the Penobscot River.
Methods: In 2017 and 2018, PINDNR collected, filleted, froze, and shipped fish to an analytical laboratory for analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins/furans, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Organic contaminant levels in these fish were compared to reference doses (where possible), as established in the U.S. EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), and to previously published wildlife values (WVs).
Results: The chemical concentrations for both years combined ranged from 6.37 nanogram per gram (ng/g) wet weight (ww) in American Shad roe to 100 ng/g ww in Striped Bass for total PCBs; 0.851 ng/g ww in American Shad roe to 5.92 ng/g ww in large Rainbow Smelt for total PBDEs; and 0.037 ng/g ww in American Shad roe to 0.221 ng/g ww in Striped Bass for total dioxin/furans. PFAS concentrations varied by the specific PFAS compound for each species. The PFAS congener concentrations ranged between 1.11 ng/g ww of perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) in Striped Bass to 6.59 ng/g ww of perflourooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in Sea Lamprey. Dioxin/furan levels were elevated enough to cause concern at the current fish advisory limits [40 grams fish per day (g/day)]. The WV for mink for total PCBs (72 ng/g) was exceeded in Striped Bass and the WV for Kestrel for PBDEs (8.7 ng/g) was exceeded in large Rainbow Smelt. Mammalian wildlife consuming Blueback Herring, Striped Bass, and Sea Lamprey may be at risk based on PFOS WVs from Canada; WVs have not been established in the US.
Significance: The results of the collaborative study indicate potential health impacts to both humans and wildlife resulting from the ingestion of fish in the Penobscot River. The Penobscot Indian Nation may utilize the results of this evaluation to inform public health policies for the community that limit exposure to these compounds.