Dose‐ and time‐dependent formation of biliary benzo[a]pyrene metabolites in the marine flatfish DAB (Limanda limanda)

Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant pollutants, and many PAHs are carcinogenic, but only after metabolic activation. Benzo[a]pyrene (B aP) is among the most carcinogenic PAHs. The dose and time response of two enzymes involved in B aP metabolism and the amounts of B aP metabolites excreted into the bile were evaluated in an experiment with dab (Limanda limandä). Ninety dab were exposed orally to one of five doses of B aP (0, 0.08, 0.4, 2, or 10 mg/kg) and sampled at 3, 6, or 12 d after exposure. None of the doses studied caused significant induction of either microsomal ethoxyresorufin‐ O‐deethylase (EROD), which reflects cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) activity, or cytosolic glutathione‐ S‐transferase activity (GST). Concentrations of biliary B aP metabolites significantly increased with dose and significantly decreased with time after exposure. It is concluded that biliary B aP metabolites provide a much more sensitive method than EROD (CYP1A) or GST activity to monitor recent exposure to PAHs in dab.

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