| Research has linked consumption of fish, fish oil, and omega fatty acids to numerous health benefits. In recent years, however, concerns of environmental pollutants contaminating marine life, the source of these food supplements, have raised concerns in regards to the human consumption. The toxicants biomagnify as they transfer through trophic levels. The objective of this study was to measure and compare the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in epididymal adipose tissue of rats after consumption of fish oil. Sprague-Dawley Rats were used and divided into three groups and fed either fish oil, fish oil spiked with contaminants, and were compared to a control group fed a diet of corn oil. After approximately nine weeks of feeding, adipose tissue was collected and analyzed for the accumulation of PCBs and OCs. This study utilized Agilent 6890 series gas chromatograph and Agilent 5973 mass spectrometers for sample analysis. The Rats fed fish oil spiked with PCBs and OCs accumulated the highest amount of PCBs and OCs compared to the rats fed non-spiked fish oil. However, the non-spiked fish oil fed rats still accumulated PCBs and OCs more compared to the control rats (corn oil fed group). Bioaccumulation is correlated with a high partition coefficient (Log KOW), which is a predictor for the partitioning between lipid phase in the environment and water. However, based on literature and my results, metabolism and bioavailability also contribute to the degrees of bioaccumulation among PCBs and OCs. Future studies should investigate dose-dependent responses and bioaccumulation for longterm exposure at low levels of PCBs and OCs in fish oil. |
