to represent the enantioselective transformation of α-HCH by marine microorganisms, seems to be independent of the seasonal variability of the biological
activity.
The enantiomeric ratios determined for the blue mussel samples exhibit a larger
variability; however, the values (mean ER value 0.89 Æ 0.14) largely reflect the fact
that the mussels accumulate persistent organic pollutants like α-HCH, but cannot
significantly degrade such persistent halogenated compounds. As a consequence, a
similar enantiomeric ratio of α-HCH is observed as in the water, which implies that
at least no enantioselective transformation of this compound takes place in the blue
mussel.
A dramatic shift of the enantiomeric ratio of α-HCH was, however, observed in
the liver of the Common eiders whose diet, as outlined above, almost completely
consists of molluscs (Kallenborn et al. 1994a, b). In all instances, the ratios (+)-αHCH/(À)-α-HCH turned out to be significantly larger than 1, thus confirming the
earlier results by Kallenborn et al. (1991, Hühnerfuss and Kallenborn 1992). A more
detailed analysis in the study by Pfaffenberger included aspects of the physiological
fitness of the investigated birds, as well as the contamination status of the sampling
area (Pfaffenberger et al. 1992).
Animals suffering on chronic illnesses, that is, two specimen (samples #5 and #8;
Table 8.9) suffered from a severe parasitic disease, showed enantiomeric α-HCH
ratios in their organ tissues between 1.4 (E2, sample #6) and 2.8 (E1, sample # 1),
while individuals of better physiological conditions (collected after drowning in the
local fishing nets) exhibited enantiomeric α-HCH ratios up to nearly 1 (E1, samples
# 2 and #3), which implies that the (À)-α-HCH enantiomer had been nearly
completely decomposed, and only the (+)-α-HCH enantiomer was enriched in the
liver. A comparison between samples of the more polluted site E1 and the less
polluted site E2 shows no clear tendency, and also the absolute concentrations of αHCH in the liver samples (Table 8.9) give no clear indication as to whether or not
higher pollution of the area gives rise to stronger enzymatic activity.
However, common Eiders must be considered migrating marine birds, during
spring and autumn moving long distances along the North Sea coast. Thus, a direct
Table 8.8 (continued)
Substance
Water/Tissue/Air [References]
2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)
propionic acid
Water (Ludwig et al. 1992a; Hühnerfuss et al. 1993; Buser and
Müller 1998; Caballo et al. 2013); soil (Romero et al. 2001)
2-(4-chloro-2methylphenoxy)propionic
acid
Water (Buser and Müller 1998; Caballo et al. 2013); Sediment
Microbial (Zipper et al. 1996)
HHCB (galaxolide)
Water (Lee et al. 2016; Gao et al. 2019); Sediment (Song et al.
2015); fish (Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
AHTN (tonalide)
Water (Wang et al. 2013a, b); sediment (Song et al. 2015); fish
(Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
ATII (traseolide)
Water (Wang and Khan 2014; Gao et al. 2019); sediment (Song
et al. 2015); fish (Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
138
8 Enantiomer-Specific Fate and Behaviour of Chiral Contaminants
activity.
The enantiomeric ratios determined for the blue mussel samples exhibit a larger
variability; however, the values (mean ER value 0.89 Æ 0.14) largely reflect the fact
that the mussels accumulate persistent organic pollutants like α-HCH, but cannot
significantly degrade such persistent halogenated compounds. As a consequence, a
similar enantiomeric ratio of α-HCH is observed as in the water, which implies that
at least no enantioselective transformation of this compound takes place in the blue
mussel.
A dramatic shift of the enantiomeric ratio of α-HCH was, however, observed in
the liver of the Common eiders whose diet, as outlined above, almost completely
consists of molluscs (Kallenborn et al. 1994a, b). In all instances, the ratios (+)-αHCH/(À)-α-HCH turned out to be significantly larger than 1, thus confirming the
earlier results by Kallenborn et al. (1991, Hühnerfuss and Kallenborn 1992). A more
detailed analysis in the study by Pfaffenberger included aspects of the physiological
fitness of the investigated birds, as well as the contamination status of the sampling
area (Pfaffenberger et al. 1992).
Animals suffering on chronic illnesses, that is, two specimen (samples #5 and #8;
Table 8.9) suffered from a severe parasitic disease, showed enantiomeric α-HCH
ratios in their organ tissues between 1.4 (E2, sample #6) and 2.8 (E1, sample # 1),
while individuals of better physiological conditions (collected after drowning in the
local fishing nets) exhibited enantiomeric α-HCH ratios up to nearly 1 (E1, samples
# 2 and #3), which implies that the (À)-α-HCH enantiomer had been nearly
completely decomposed, and only the (+)-α-HCH enantiomer was enriched in the
liver. A comparison between samples of the more polluted site E1 and the less
polluted site E2 shows no clear tendency, and also the absolute concentrations of αHCH in the liver samples (Table 8.9) give no clear indication as to whether or not
higher pollution of the area gives rise to stronger enzymatic activity.
However, common Eiders must be considered migrating marine birds, during
spring and autumn moving long distances along the North Sea coast. Thus, a direct
Table 8.8 (continued)
Substance
Water/Tissue/Air [References]
2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)
propionic acid
Water (Ludwig et al. 1992a; Hühnerfuss et al. 1993; Buser and
Müller 1998; Caballo et al. 2013); soil (Romero et al. 2001)
2-(4-chloro-2methylphenoxy)propionic
acid
Water (Buser and Müller 1998; Caballo et al. 2013); Sediment
Microbial (Zipper et al. 1996)
HHCB (galaxolide)
Water (Lee et al. 2016; Gao et al. 2019); Sediment (Song et al.
2015); fish (Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
AHTN (tonalide)
Water (Wang et al. 2013a, b); sediment (Song et al. 2015); fish
(Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
ATII (traseolide)
Water (Wang and Khan 2014; Gao et al. 2019); sediment (Song
et al. 2015); fish (Gatermann et al. 2002a, b)
138
8 Enantiomer-Specific Fate and Behaviour of Chiral Contaminants