Prediction of PCB Content in Sportfish Using Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs)

Abstract

Triolein-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were immersed at three locations along the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana for 30 days to see if the PCB content of fish from the same location could be predicted with this model device. Triolein from the SPMD's was analyzed for PCB using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared to residues detected in fish collected from the same locations. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in total PCB concentrations between SPMD samples. However, due to variability in PCB residues between species and low PCB residues in SPMDs, a direct correlation between PCBs in sportfish and SPMDs could not be determined.

Keywords:

• SPMD
• PCB
• ELISA
• Fish
• Contaminant

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant College Program and Purdue University Agricultural Research Programs for partially funding this research. This research was also supported through a cooperative agreement with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service Program project number 1935-42000-035. We would also like to thank Strategic Diagnostic, Inc. for providing ELISA kits and Cheryl Schaul for providing lab assistance. We are also appreciative to Aaron Priebe and Brady Miller for their efforts to deploy and collect SPMDs samples from the rivers.