Despite over seven decades of production and hundreds of oil spills per year, there were no comprehensive baselines for petroleum contamination in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) prior to this study. Subsequent to the 2010Deepwater Horizon(DWH) spill, we implemented Gulf-wide fish surveys extending over seven years (2011–2018). A total of 2,503 fishes, comprised of 91 species, were sampled from 359 locations and evaluated for biliary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations. The northern GoM had significantly higher total biliary PAH concentrations than the West Florida Shelf, and coastal regions off Mexico and Cuba. The highest concentrations of biliary PAH metabolites occurred in Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares), Golden Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps), and Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Conversely, biliary PAH concentrations were relatively low for most other species including economically important snappers and groupers. While oil contamination in most demersal species in the north central GoM declined in the first few years following DWH, more recent increases in exposure to PAHs in some species suggest a complex interaction between multiple input sources and possible re-suspension or bioturbation of oil-contaminated sediments. This study provides the most comprehensive baselines of PAH exposure in fishes ever conducted for a large marine ecosystem.

A time series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) data was collected for Gulf of Mexico demersal fishes in the years following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2012‐2017). Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) were sampled via demersal longline at repeat stations in the northern Gulf of Mexico in 2012 to 2015, and 2017. Bile samples (n = 256) were analyzed via high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for PAH metabolites as a biomarker of exposure to PAHs. Liver tissues (n = 230) were analyzed for accumulation of PAHs and alkylated homologs via QuEChERS extractions and GC‐MS/MS quantification. Over the six‐year time series, exposure to petrogenic PAHs increased by an average of 178%, correlating with an average 22% decline in Fulton's condition factor. The decline in Fulton's condition factor was positively correlated with a 53% decline in percent liver lipid. There was no accumulation of PAHs in liver tissue over time. Together, these results suggest that increasing and chronic PAH exposure and metabolism may be taxing the energy budgets of Tilefish, particularly adult females, with potentially negative impacts on fitness.

Ten grouper species grouper (n = 584) were collected throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) from 2011 through 2017 to provide information on hepatobiliary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Liver and bile samples were analyzed for PAHs and their metabolites using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-F), respectively. Data were compared among species and sub-regions of the GoM to understand spatiotemporal exposure dynamics in these economically and ecologically important species. Significant differences in the composition and concentrations of PAHs were detected spatially, over time and by species. The West Florida Shelf, Cuba coast and the Yucatan Shelf had a greater proportion of the pyrogenic PAHs in their livers than the other regions likely due to non-oil industry related sources (e.g., marine vessel traffic) in the regional composition profiles. Mean liver PAH concentrations were highest in the north central region of the GoM where DWH occurred. Biliary PAH concentrations and health indicator biometrics initially decrease during the first three years following the DWH oil spill but significantly increased thereafter. Increased exposures are likely explained by the resuspension of residual DWH oil as well as continued inputs from natural (e.g., seeps) sources and other anthropogenically derived sources (e.g., riverine runoff, other oil spills, and leaking oil and gas infrastructure). The increasing trend in PAH concentrations in the bile and liver of grouper species in the north central region of the GoM post-DWH suggest continued chronic exposures, however the critical stage at which permanent, irreparable damage may occur is unknown. Long-term monitoring of PAH levels and associated fish health biomarkers is necessary to evaluate impacts of chronic exposures, particularly in regions subject to intensive oil extraction activities.

The two most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured in the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) crude oil, naphthalene and phenanthrene and their associated homologs, have both been shown to be acutely toxic in fish. Although fish have a relatively high metabolic capacity for PAHs, hydroxylated PAH (OH-PAHs) derivatives formed during the initial metabolic response can negatively impact the health of fish. Species-specific metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene was evaluated in three marine teleosts, red drum (Scianops ocellatus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) and southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). Fish were exposed to DWH crude oil by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections at time 0 and 48 hours with bile sampling events at 24 and 72 hours post injection. The data suggested metabolic induction in Florida pompano and red drum, whereas southern flounder may have demonstrated metabolic fatigue. By 24 hour post injection, overall profiles of red drum and southern flounder were dominated by hydroxylated phenanthrene metabolites, conversely, the Florida pompano profiles were dominated by monohydroxylated naphthalenes. In addition, Florida pompano had faster overall relative biotransformation rates suggesting their potential decreased susceptibility to adverse effects. Whereas, red drum and southern flounder had much lower relative biotransformation rates indicating their probable susceptibility to adverse outcomes to naphthalene and phenanthrene exposures. To our knowledge this is the first report investigating monohydroxylated PAHs in fish exposed to DWH oil. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Federal, state, tribal, or local entities in the United States issue fish consumption advisories (FCAs) as guidance for safer consumption of locally caught fish containing contaminants. Fish consumption advisories have been developed for commonly detected compounds such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. The existing national guidance does not specifically address the unique challenges associated with bioaccumulation and consumption risk related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As a result, several states have derived their own PFAS-related consumption guidelines, many of which focus on one frequently detected PFAS, known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, there can be significant variation between tissue concentrations or trigger concentrations (TCs) of PFOS that support the individual state-issued FCAs. This variation in TCs can create challenges for risk assessors and risk communicators in their efforts to protect public health. The objective of this article is to review existing challenges, knowledge gaps, and needs related to issuing PFAS-related FCAs and to provide key considerations for the development of protective fish consumption guidance. The current state of the science and variability in FCA derivation, considerations for sampling and analytical methodologies, risk management, risk communication, and policy challenges are discussed. How to best address PFAS mixtures in the development of FCAs, in risk assessment, and establishment of effect thresholds remains a major challenge, as well as a source of uncertainty and scrutiny. This includes developments better elucidating toxicity factors, exposures to PFAS mixtures, community fish consumption behaviors, and evolving technology and analytical instrumentation, methods, and the associated detection limits. Given the evolving science and public interests informing PFAS-related FCAs, continued review and revision of FCA approaches and best practices are vital. Nonetheless, consistent, widely applicable, PFAS-specific approaches informing methods, critical concentration thresholds, and priority compounds may assist practitioners in PFAS-related FCA development and possibly reduce variability between states and jurisdictions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1839–1858. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points Fish consumption advisories (FCAs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present unique scientific and public health policy challenges. The evolving information about PFAS toxicology and mixture effects presents a challenge for risk assessment and risk communication. Sampling for PFAS FCAs requires consideration of chemical, biological, and environmental features that can influence data quality. While FCAs are specific to the United States, these PFAS-specific challenges are relevant for other forms of risk assessment, management, and communication.

Prior to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, we lacked a comprehensive baseline of oil contamination in the Gulf of Mexico's (GoM) sediments, water column, and biota. Gaps in pre‐spill knowledge limit our ability to determine the after‐effects of the DWH blowout or prepare to mitigate similar impacts during future oil spill disasters. We examined spatiotemporal differences in exposure to and metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in two hake species (Urophycis spp.) to establish a current baseline for these ecologically important, abundant, and at‐risk demersal fishes. Gulf hake (Urophycis cirrata) and southern hake (Urophycis floridana) were collected throughout the GoM during extensive longline surveys from 2012‐2015. Analyses of biliary PAH metabolites and liver PAH concentrations provide evidence of exposures to di‐ and tri‐cyclic compounds, with the highest concentrations measured in the northern GoM. Species‐specific differences were not detected, but temporal trends observed in biliary PAHs suggest a decrease in acute exposures, while increasing liver PAHs suggest chronic exposures marked by greater assimilation than metabolism rates. To our knowledge, the present study provides the first multi‐tissue contaminant analyses, as well as the most exhaustive biometric analyses, for both gulf and southern hakes. Though sources of exposure are complex due to multiple natural and anthropogenic PAH inputs, these results will facilitate the development of much needed health metrics for GoM benthos.