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Although Japan has been considered to have little lead (Pb) pollution in modern times, the actual pollution situation is unclear. The present study aims to investigate the extent of Pb pollution and to identify the pollution sources in Japan using stable Pb isotope analysis with kidneys of wild rats. Wild brown (Rattus norvegicus, n = 43) and black (R. rattus, n = 98) rats were trapped from various sites in Japan. Mean Pb concentrations in the kidneys of rats from Okinawa (15.58 mg/kg, dry weight), Aichi (10.83), Niigata (10.62), Fukuoka (8.09), Ibaraki (5.06), Kyoto (4.58), Osaka (4.57), Kanagawa (3.42), and Tokyo (3.40) were above the threshold (2.50) for histological kidney changes. Similarly, compared with the previous report, it was regarded that even structural and functional kidney damage as well as neurotoxicity have spread among rats in Japan. Additionally, the possibility of human exposure to a high level of Pb was assumed. In regard to stable Pb isotope analysis, distinctive values of stable Pb isotope ratios (Pb-IRs) were detected in some kidney samples with Pb levels above 5.0 mg/kg. This result indicated that composite factors are involved in Pb pollution. However, the identification of a concrete pollution source has not been accomplished due to limited differences among previously reported values of Pb isotope composition in circulating Pb products. Namely, the current study established the limit of Pb isotope analysis for source identification. Further detailed research about monitoring Pb pollution in Japan and the demonstration of a novel method to identify Pb sources are needed.

Red gourami (Colisa labiosa) have previously been shown to have low levels of pyrene-metabolizing activity. In this study, other pharmacokinetic factors of pyrene in C. labiosawere compared to those in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Results indicated that the twospecies labiosa absorbed pyrene in similar amounts. However, excretion of pyrene metabo-lites from C. labiosa over an 8-day period was lower than those from O. latipes. These findingsshow that C. labiosa has low ability to metabolize pyrene and to excrete pyrene and itsmetabolites from the body, and is therefore considered an accumulator of these chemicals.C. labiosa has unique characteristics with regard to pyrene pharmacokinetics. Knowledgeabout interspecies differences in pharmacokinetics is crucial in determining the endangeredspecies to xenobiotic exposure

Pyrene (PY) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that is often used as a biomarker for human and wildlife exposure to PAHs. As the metabolites of PAHs, similar to their parent compounds, pose public health risks, it is necessary to study their characteristics and tissue-specific distribution. The present study was performed to experimentally characterize PY metabolites and analyze the tissuespecific distribution of the conjugated metabolites after oral administration of PY to rats. PY metabolites, such as pyrenediol-disulfate (PYdiol-diS), pyrenediol-sulfate (PYdiol-S), pyrene-1-sufate (PYOS), pyrene-1-glucuronide (PYOG) and 1-hydroxypyrene (PYOH), were detected in rat urine. Although glucuronide conjugate was the predominant metabolite, the metabolite composition varied among tissues. Interestingly, the proportion of PYOH was high in the large intestine. Furthermore, PYOH was the only PY metabolite detected in feces. KEY WORDS: conjugated metabolites, glucuronidation, rat, sulfation, tissue distribution

Metabolic activity, particularly conjugation, was examined in fish by analyzing pyrene (a four-ring, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector (FD), a mass spectrometry (MS) system, and kinetic analysis of conjugation enzymes. Fourteen fresh water fish species, including Danio rerio and Orizias latipes, were exposed to aqueous pyrene, and the resulting metabolites were collected. Identification of pyrene metabolites by HPLC/FD and ion-trap MS indicated that the major metabolites were pyrene glucuronide and pyrene sulfate in all 14 species. Differences were observed in pyrene glucuronide:pyrene sulfate ratio and in the total amount of pyrene conjugates excreted between fish species. Furthermore, a correlation was found between the amount of pyrene glucuronide present and the total amount of the pyrene metabolite eliminated. Kinetic analysis of conjugation by hepatic microsomes in vitro indicated that the differences in excreted metabolites reflected the differences in enzymatic activities. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.