Effect of ingested benzo[a]pyrene and cadmium on tissue accumulation, hydroxylase activity, and intestinal morphology of the black sea bass, Centropristis striata

Black sea bass, Centropristis striata, were fed shrimp containing [14C]benzo[a]pyrene (200 ppb) in the presence and absence of cadmium (10 ppm) for 10 days. Concentrations of cadmium in muscle tissue were significantly higher when both cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene were ingested simultaneously by the fish. Results indicate that selected tissue concentrations of total benzo[a]pyrene compounds (parent and metabolites) were not affected by the presence of cadmium. The bile contained the majority of benzo[a]pyrene found for all treatments. Ingestion of both contaminants had no effect on hepatic benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity. Histological evidence from the feeding study demonstrated the presence of subcellular inclusions in the intestinal columnar cells and the combined effects of both contaminants appeared greater than either alone.