Occurrence of retene and resin acids in sediments and fish bile froma lake receiving pulp and paper mill effluents

Retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene) is a dialkyl-substituted PAH derived thermally and microbially from dehydroabietic acid. We have analyzed for retene and several resin acids in sediments at five depths at several sites in a lake receiving effluents from three pulp and paper mills, and two upstream reference sites. The highest concentration of retene was 1,600 micro g/g dry weight (11,700 micro g/g organic carbon [OC]) and of total resin acids was 1,500 micro micro g/g dry weight (9,300 g/g OC). Twelve kilometers downstream from the point of bleached-kraft mill effluent (BKME) discharge, the concentrationof retene at a depth of 5 to 10 cm was 16 micro g/g dry weight (650 micro g/g OC) and of resin acids was 139 micro g/g dry weight (1,700 micro g/g OC). Upstream of the BKME discharge, the concentration of retene was below 0.1 micro g/g dry weight and of resin acids was below70 micro g/g dry weight. To assess the bioavailability of retene to fish we determined its concentration in the bile of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) caught 1 to 2 km downstream of pulp and paper mills and in the reference area. Retene was bioavailable to roach, which primarily feed on benthic organisms; however, retene was not detected in perch bile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]