First evidence of explosives and their degradation products in dab (Limanda limanda L.) from a munition dumpsite in the Baltic Sea. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koske, Daniel; Straumer, Katharina; Goldenstein, Nadine I.; Hanel, Reinhold; Lang, Thomas; Kammann, Ulrike
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 155(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: TNT 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene -- 2-ADNT 2-amino-4, 6-dinitrolouene -- 4-ADNT 4- amino-2, 6-dinitrolouene -- 1, 3-DNB 1, 3-dintrobenzene -- TNB 1, 3, 5-trinitrobenzene -- HMX octahydro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetranitro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetrazocine -- RDX hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine -- 2, 4-DNT 2, 4-dinitrotoluene -- 2, 5-DNT 2, 5-dinitrotoluene -- 1, 4-DNB 1, 4-dinitrobenzene; Trinitrotoluene -- Fish -- Dab (Limanda limanda) -- Metabolites -- Dumped munition -- Biomonitoring; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Corrosion and disintegration of munition shells from the World Wars increase the risk that explosives are released into the marine environment, exposing a variety of organisms. Only few studies investigated contamination of fish with explosives in the field under environmental conditions. Here we present a comprehensive study on the contamination status of dab ( Limanda limanda ) from a munition dumpsite and from reference sites in the Baltic Sea. Bile of 236 dab from four different study sites, including a dumpsite for conventional munitions, was investigated and explosive compounds were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five explosive compounds were identified, including 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene, 4-amino-2, 6-dinitrolouene, and hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine. 48% of the samples from the dumpsite contained at least one explosive compound. The results prove that toxic explosive compounds from a dumpsite in the Baltic Sea are accumulated by flatfish and may therefore pose a risk to fish health and human food safety. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Bile samples from 236 dab from 4 different sites in the Baltic Sea were investigated. Explosive compounds in bile fluids were detected by HPLC-MS. 48% of the samples from the munition dumpsite contained explosive compounds. Toxic explosive compounds originating from dumped munitions are taken up by flatfish.