Researcher(s)
- Shayna Demick, , University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Mi-ling Li, Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pollution originates from long-range oceanic and atmospheric transport from industrial and agricultural sources as well as from direct input from local sources. This pollution threatens Arctic marine ecosystems and fisheries that Native Alaskan communities rely on. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of manufactured POPs that are widespread and highly stable in the environment. Many PFAS are water-soluble, making marine ecosystems a major environmental sink. These compounds consist of a highly fluorinated carbon chain and head group which give a diverse range of physicochemical properties. Prior studies have found that PFAS, like other POPs, biomagnify in Arctic marine food webs. This trend has not yet been explored in the Bering Sea food web.
This study aimed to quantify PFAS concentrations and profiles in five fish species from two distinct trophic levels in the Bering Sea food web. I followed a modified version of EPA Method 1633 to conduct PFAS extractions from fish species collected in 2019-2022. PFAS concentrations were analyzed on Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The summed concentrations of 27 PFAS varied significantly between species, with the highest concentrations in Saffron Cod and the lowest in Capelin. To explain these differences, I analyzed the relationship between PFAS concentration and various organismal characteristics, including foraging behavior, size, and trophic level. Trophic level had a weak positive relationship with PFAS concentration while foraging behavior and size were statistically insignificant. These relationships may be strengthened and better understood with greater sample size and species diversity. Preliminary results from this study will guide a more comprehensive analysis of the food web.