Effects of Exposure Timing on cyp1a Expression, PAH Elimination, and Lipid Utilization in Lumpfish Embryos Exposed to Produced Water

Abstract

Intentional discharges of produced water from oil production platforms to the marine environment contain a complex mixture of toxicants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Early life stages of fish are highly sensitive to petrogenic exposure, and short-term exposure during critical periods of embryonic development may have detrimental effects on larvae health and survival. However, why different periods are more sensitive to exposure than others are not fully understood. Three identical exposure experiments (48 h, approx. 30 μg/L tPAH, sum 42 PAHs) on lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) embryos were conducted where only exposure timing was varied: 0–48 h post fertilization (hpf, starting before chorion hardening), 36–84 hpf (starting after chorion hardening), and 240–288 hpf (during organogenesis). Total PAH (tPAH) uptake at the end of exposure was 5× higher when exposed during fertilization than when exposed late (during organogenesis). The first evidence of cyp1a induction in lumpfish during embryogenesis was observed after 84 hpf. Early exposure affected lipid droplet coagulation, indicating altered lipid utilization during embryogenesis. Although no significant impacts of exposure were observed on hatching success, hatching was delayed when exposed at the latest time point. This study shows that chorion properties, lipid content, biotransformation potential, and timing of produced water exposure during lumpfish embryogenesis affected PAH uptake and elimination.