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Determining pharmaceutical levels in fish plasma represents an increasingly valuable approach for environmental assessments of pharmaceuticals. These fish plasma observations are compared to human therapeutic plasma doses because of the high evolutionary conservation of many drug targets among vertebrates. In the present study, we initially identified highly variable information regarding plasma sampling practices in the literature and then tested the hypothesis that fish plasma levels of selected pharmaceuticals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) would not change with time to process samples from the field. After common carp were placed in a wastewater-fed pond for one month, we immediately sampled fish plasma nonlethally in the field or after transferring fish to clean water and held them under these conditions for either 3 or 20 h. We then quantitated pharmaceuticals in water, and pharmaceuticals and PFASs in plasma by LC-MSMS. Whereas plasma levels of most pharmaceuticals decreased even after 3 h that fish spent in clean water, plasma concentrations of the PFASs examined here remained stable over 20 h. Collectively, our examination of these time-dependent sampling approaches and associated findings highlight the importance of appropriate and consistent sampling for bioaccumulation studies, biomonitoring activities, and aquaculture product safety evaluations. [Display omitted] • 15 pharmaceuticals and their metabolites +13 PFASs were found in fish plasma. • Differences in plasma concentration of drugs were observed over just 3 h. • Plasma concentrations of PFASs were stable over 20 h. • Immediate plasma sampling in the field is essential for bioaccumulation assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Total Hg biomagnified through successive trophic levels in two European rivers. • Total Hg in goby and a native benthic species not significantly different. • Round goby diet indicates a preference for invertebrates over molluscs. • Goby introduction has not introduced a new pathway for trophic contaminant transfer. • Evidence for case-specificity regarding potential impacts on recipient systems. In this study, we examine multiple trophic levels in two Central European rivers (the Dyje and Elbe) to assess whether round goby invasion has changed the pattern of total mercury (Hg) transfer through trophic levels. In the absence of comparable historical data, we also examined levels for European gudgeon, a native benthic species occupying a similar trophic niche to round goby. Our data clearly indicated bioaccumulation of total Hg with increasing trophic position in both rivers. Patterns were very similar in both rivers, with no significant difference in total Hg accumulation between round goby and gudgeon. Biomagnification factors were high for gobies (highest in the Elbe) and relatively low for perch (higher in the Dyje), with levels for burbot (Dyje only) similar to those for gobies. Goby dietary analysis revealed a clear preference for benthic macroinvertebrates in both rivers, with zebra mussels taken only occasionally. Both perch and burbot had an omnivorous diet, effectively "diluting" total Hg accumulation from benthivorous fish. Our results indicate that goby invasion has not altered the pattern of trophic contaminant transfer and, consequently, has not increased threat levels to top predators and humans. Our results corroborate findings from around Europe suggesting a preference for macroinvertebrates over zebra mussels and provide further evidence for case-specificity regarding potential round goby impacts on recipient systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental monitoring and surveillance studies of pharmaceuticals routinely examine occurrence of substances without current information on human consumption patterns. We selected 10 streams with diverse annual flows and differentially influenced by population densities to examine surface water occurrence and fish accumulation of select psychoactive medicines, for which consumption is increasing in the Czech Republic. We then tested whether passive sampling can provide a useful surrogate for exposure to these substances through grab sampling, body burdens of young of year fish, and tissue specific accumulation of these psychoactive contaminants. We identified a statistically significant (p < 0.05) relationship between ambient grab samples and passive samplers in these streams when psychoactive contaminants were commonly quantitated by targeted liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, though we did not observe relationships between passive samplers and tissue specific pharmaceutical accumulation. We further observed smaller lotic systems with elevated contamination when municipal effluent discharges from more highly populated cities contributed a greater extent of instream flows. These findings identify the importance of understanding age and species specific differences in fish uptake, internal disposition, metabolism and elimination of psychoactive drugs across surface water quality gradients. Image 1 • Consumption of 17 psychoactive pharmaceuticals is increasing in some regions. • We observed a significant relationship between drugs in POCIS and grab samples. • Tissue specific accumulation of antidepressants was observed in fish. • Elevated contamination occurred in streams with low instream dilution. • Future research is needed to define age and species specific accumulation by fish. Grab water samples were related to observations from passive samplers; however, passive samplers was not related to tissue specific pharmaceuticals accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitization by the larvae (glochidia) of freshwater mussels can cause harm to a fish's gills, resulting in less effective respiration and/or reduced activity by the host fish. The impact of glochidia infections on the host's physiology remains poorly understood, and no information is available concerning energy consumption in parasitized fish. Hence, we obtained glochidia of the invasive unionid mussel Sinanodonta ( Anodonta ) woodiana and experimentally infected common carp, Cyprinus carpio , tagged with physiological sensors to measure energy consumption. We tested the hypothesis that parasitization affects energy consumption in the host fish, reflected as higher energy costs for movement and reduced movement activity over eight days post-infection within a twenty-four-hour cycle. Parasitized fish showed higher energy costs of movement; however, no changes in movement activity were found compared with activity in control fish. Significantly increased biochemical indices were measured in host fish blood samples, including aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferase levels, indicating liver injury, and high concentrations of potassium (K + ), signifying kidney injury (hyperkalemia). Increased Cl − concentrations indicate gill dysfunction. Our results show that the energy costs due to glochidia parasitization are independent of overall movement activity patterns and vary in time according to the parasitic phase and the diurnal cycle. Moreover, the side effects of parasitization have a more important impact on fish hosts than has been shown in previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methamphetamine, mainly consumed as an illicit drug, is a potent addictive psychostimulant that has been detected in surface water at concentrations ranging from nanograms to micrograms per litre, especially in Middle and East Europe. The aim of this study was to expose brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) to environmental (1 μg L−1) and higher (50 μg L−1) concentrations of methamphetamine for 35 days with a four-day depuration phase to assess the possible negative effects on fish health. Degenerative liver and heart alterations, similar to those described in mammals, were observed at both concentrations, although at different intensities. Apoptotic changes in hepatocytes, revealed by activated caspase-3, were found in exposed fish. The parent compound and a metabolite (amphetamine) were detected in fish tissues in both concentration groups, in the order of kidney > liver > brain > muscle > plasma. Bioconcentration factors ranged from 0.13 to 80. A therapeutic plasma concentration was reached for both compounds in the high-concentration treatment. This study indicates that chronic environmental concentrations of methamphetamine can lead to health issues in aquatic organisms. Image 1 • Methamphetamine and its metabolite amphetamine concentrate in tissues of brown trout. • Histological findings appear even at low concentration in liver and heart. • The tissue impairments are similar to those described in mammals. • Brown trout shows partially adaptation to methamphetamine exposure. • Environmental concentration of methamphetamine can lead to alterations in aquatic fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]