Per- and polyfluoroalkyl occurrence and concentrations in lentic invasive snakehead populations: identifying gene expression signatures of toxicity with implications for human consumption advisories
Abstract:
Contaminants of emerging concern and aquatic invasive species are of global interest for the health of aquatic ecosystems and humans. In Pennsylvania, like other parts of the world, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have seen increased scrutiny over the last few years due to their potential adverse ecological and human health effects. At the same time, an invasive fish species, the northern snakehead Channa argus, has become established and continues to spread in southeastern Pennsylvania. The nexus between PFAS and invasive snakeheads occurs through the link to environmental and human health. Snakeheads are top predators that can tolerate human-impacted environments, can bioaccumulate contaminants, and are also a popular food fish – representing a potential health hazard. In fact, thousands of kilograms of snakehead are harvested annually through commercial and recreational fisheries and fishery-independent efforts – with hundreds of kilograms of fillets being donated to local food banks. Furthermore, encouraging harvest of this invasive fish species is used as a management tool to help reduce local densities and minimize negative impacts on local fish communities. However, uncertainties about how PFAS accumulate in fishes, and ultimately affect fish, leads to difficulty in quantifying the associated risk and potential adverse health outcomes.
Identifying potential PFAS biochemical response pathways in recreationally important fishes can help in the development of molecular bioindicators that can be used to help inform management decisions related to PFAS exposure in wild fish populations.
The overall goals of this proposed research are to (1) quantify PFAS occurrence and concentrations in an invasive, recreationally important fish species along an urban land use gradient, and (2) identify gene expression signatures of toxicity to help inform fisheries management and human health risk assessment efforts.
