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Contaminant Concentrations and Histopathological Effects in Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus)

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Abstract

Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) is a species of special concern in California, due to multiple anthropogenic stressors. To better understand the potential impact of contaminant exposure, adult splittail were captured from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (California, USA) and analyzed for histopathology and contaminant exposure. Organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDTs, dieldrin, chlordanes, and PBDEs) and trace metals (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, and Zn) were detected in the tissues of all fish. In many samples, human health screening values were exceeded for PCBs (83 of 90 samples), DDTs (32 samples), and dieldrin (37 samples). In contrast, thresholds for fish effects were rarely exceeded. Histopathological analysis indicated the presence of macrophage aggregates in gonads, kidneys, and liver and a high incidence of liver abnormalities. In the liver, observed effects were often moderate to severe for glycogen depletion (55 of 95 fish), lipidosis (hepatocellular vacuolation; 51 fish), and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (33 fish). Correlations between histopathology and tissue contaminant concentrations were weak and inconsistent. Significant correlations were observed between histopathology indicators and reductions in fish size, body condition, lipid content, and liver weight. These results suggest that splittail histopathology varies as a function of health and nutritional status, rather than exposure to legacy organic and metal pollutants.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Randall Baxter for assistance with sampling design, coordination, and interpretation; John Negrey, Bryan Frueh, Dylan Service, and Dustin Service for field collection; Jee Liu and Deng Xin for sample preparation, metal analyses, and Se determinations; and Kathleen Regalado, Gary Munoz, Laurie Smith, Matt Hicks, and David Gilman for participation in organics analysis. The constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. This study was funded by California Bay-Delta Authority Project 99-N07 and is SFEI contribution no. 540.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Francisco Estuary Institute, 7770 Pardee Lane, Oakland, CA, 94621, USA

    Ben K. Greenfield, John R. M. Ross, Jennifer Hunt & Jay A. Davis

  2. Aquatic Toxicology Program, VM:APCB, One Shields Avenue, UC Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Swee J. Teh, GuoHua Zhang, Silas S. O. Hung, DongFang Deng & Foo-Ching Teh

  3. California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory, 7544 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA, 95039, USA

    Gary Ichikawa

  4. California Department of Fish and Game, Fish and Wildlife Water Pollution Control Laboratory, 2005 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95670, USA

    David Crane

  5. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University Of California, One Shields Avenue, UC Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Peter G. Green

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  1. Ben K. Greenfield
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Correspondence to Ben K. Greenfield.

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Greenfield, B.K., Teh, S.J., Ross, J.R.M. et al. Contaminant Concentrations and Histopathological Effects in Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 55, 270–281 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9112-3

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