Maternal transfer and apical and physiological effects of dietary hexabromocyclododecane exposure in parental fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas).

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) that has been characterized as an endocrine disruptor, undergoes maternal transfer, and hinders development and growth in oviparous organisms. This study examined the apical effects of dietary HBCD (11.5, 36.4, 106 mg/kg, ww) on adult fathead minnow (FHMs) exposed for 49 days and the subsequent accumulation and maternal transfer kinetics in adult tissue and eggs, respectively. Exposed adults displayed a significant increase in egg production in the medium treatment group, however, no other significant effects were noted. Maternal transfer of dietary HBCD had a similar egg-to-muscle ratio (EMR) in the low and medium treatment groups (1.65 and 1.27 [ww], respectively). However, the high treatment group deviated from other treatments with an EMR of 4.2 (ww), potentially due to differences in total lipid content in food and/or reaching diffusion/lipid saturation limits in adult tissue resulting in lower accumulation in the adult muscle tissue. A positive correlation was observed between egg HBCD concentration and time of exposure, which indicate that maternal transfer of HBCD is of concern in fish, and further studies should be conducted to fully elucidate the potential adverse effects that may be observed in ELS of oviparous organisms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;00:0-0. © 2022 SETAC.