Evidence for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Diet of Bottom-Feeding Fish

Among environmental pollutants, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are of interest because of their widespread occurrence and the human carcinogenicity of their metabolic products. Most PAH are relatively water insoluble and ultimately are deposited in sediments. In localized areas of eastern Lake Erie, sediments have been shown to have high concentrations of PAH. As a part of an ongoing research on environmental carcinogenesis, the authors have been examining possible routes of exposure to carcinogens in feral fish. They report here data indicating that the diet of bottom-feeding fish can contain substantial concentrations of PAH. Some of these PAH can be metabolically activated to carcinogens and may be involved in neoplasia in these fish.