Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling

Kendric Aaron Tee; Meng-Yi Xie; Linjie Jin; Brian C.W. Kot; Martin T.K. Tsui; Kenneth M.Y. Leung; Paul K.S. Lam; Yuefei Ruan

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107353

Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling

Kendric Aaron Tee
, Meng-Yi Xie
, Linjie Jin
, Brian C.W. Kot
, Martin T.K. Tsui
, Kenneth M.Y. Leung
, Paul K.S. Lam
, Yuefei Ruan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

3 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

The Pearl River Delta region in southern China, as a major urban and manufacturing center, receives an elevated burden of brominated flame retardant (BFR) pollution, with its estuary acting as an important sink. Resident cetacean species like Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) can serve as a bioindicator for the spatiotemporal dynamics of BFRs in the Pearl River Estuary because of their susceptibility to bioaccumulation, but prohibitions on sample collection from living individuals necessitates the development of non-invasive exposure assessment methods. In this study, physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling was used as a non-intrusive tool for assessing the exposure of N. phocaenoides to legacy and novel BFRs. Model-generated data were compared to concentrations detected in various tissue samples collected from stranded individuals (during 2013−2022) for further validation. Temporal trends in prey species concentrations were approximated through modeling-based approaches and observed data from blubber samples. The models were able to approximate the relative tissue distribution patterns of both legacy and novel BFRs, with the highest concentrations found in adipose tissue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that parameters relating to adipose tissue are most likely to affect model outcomes due to its function as the main reservoir of BFRs in vivo. Our PBTK modeling further supports the use of N. phocaenoides as a bioindicator for temporal trends of BFR releases from the Pearl River Delta region. Overall, the developed PBTK modeling can be used to assess the exposure and tissue distribution of legacy and novel BFRs for N. phocaenoides in the Indo-Pacific region. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	107353
Journal	Aquatic Toxicology
Volume	283
Online published	2 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107353
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC3204800) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF 2021-45). The authors thank the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCFHK) for providing the biosamples. This work was also supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong SAR Government (9448002), which provides regular research funding to the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of the Hong Kong SAR Government or the ITC.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 14 Life Below Water

Research Keywords

Bioindicator
Biomonitoring
Cetacean
Contaminant
Non-intrusive
Porpoise
Temporal trend

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This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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title = "Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling",

abstract = "The Pearl River Delta region in southern China, as a major urban and manufacturing center, receives an elevated burden of brominated flame retardant (BFR) pollution, with its estuary acting as an important sink. Resident cetacean species like Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) can serve as a bioindicator for the spatiotemporal dynamics of BFRs in the Pearl River Estuary because of their susceptibility to bioaccumulation, but prohibitions on sample collection from living individuals necessitates the development of non-invasive exposure assessment methods. In this study, physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling was used as a non-intrusive tool for assessing the exposure of N. phocaenoides to legacy and novel BFRs. Model-generated data were compared to concentrations detected in various tissue samples collected from stranded individuals (during 2013−2022) for further validation. Temporal trends in prey species concentrations were approximated through modeling-based approaches and observed data from blubber samples. The models were able to approximate the relative tissue distribution patterns of both legacy and novel BFRs, with the highest concentrations found in adipose tissue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that parameters relating to adipose tissue are most likely to affect model outcomes due to its function as the main reservoir of BFRs in vivo. Our PBTK modeling further supports the use of N. phocaenoides as a bioindicator for temporal trends of BFR releases from the Pearl River Delta region. Overall, the developed PBTK modeling can be used to assess the exposure and tissue distribution of legacy and novel BFRs for N. phocaenoides in the Indo-Pacific region. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "Bioindicator, Biomonitoring, Cetacean, Contaminant, Non-intrusive, Porpoise, Temporal trend",

author = "Tee, \{Kendric Aaron\} and Meng-Yi Xie and Linjie Jin and Kot, \{Brian C.W.\} and Tsui, \{Martin T.K.\} and Leung, \{Kenneth M.Y.\} and Lam, \{Paul K.S.\} and Yuefei Ruan",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107353",

language = "English",

volume = "283",

journal = "Aquatic Toxicology",

issn = "0166-445X",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling. / Tee, Kendric Aaron; Xie, Meng-Yi; Jin, Linjie et al.
In: Aquatic Toxicology, Vol. 283, 107353, 06.2025.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling

AU - Tee, Kendric Aaron

AU - Xie, Meng-Yi

AU - Jin, Linjie

AU - Kot, Brian C.W.

AU - Tsui, Martin T.K.

AU - Leung, Kenneth M.Y.

AU - Lam, Paul K.S.

AU - Ruan, Yuefei

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - The Pearl River Delta region in southern China, as a major urban and manufacturing center, receives an elevated burden of brominated flame retardant (BFR) pollution, with its estuary acting as an important sink. Resident cetacean species like Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) can serve as a bioindicator for the spatiotemporal dynamics of BFRs in the Pearl River Estuary because of their susceptibility to bioaccumulation, but prohibitions on sample collection from living individuals necessitates the development of non-invasive exposure assessment methods. In this study, physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling was used as a non-intrusive tool for assessing the exposure of N. phocaenoides to legacy and novel BFRs. Model-generated data were compared to concentrations detected in various tissue samples collected from stranded individuals (during 2013−2022) for further validation. Temporal trends in prey species concentrations were approximated through modeling-based approaches and observed data from blubber samples. The models were able to approximate the relative tissue distribution patterns of both legacy and novel BFRs, with the highest concentrations found in adipose tissue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that parameters relating to adipose tissue are most likely to affect model outcomes due to its function as the main reservoir of BFRs in vivo. Our PBTK modeling further supports the use of N. phocaenoides as a bioindicator for temporal trends of BFR releases from the Pearl River Delta region. Overall, the developed PBTK modeling can be used to assess the exposure and tissue distribution of legacy and novel BFRs for N. phocaenoides in the Indo-Pacific region. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

AB - The Pearl River Delta region in southern China, as a major urban and manufacturing center, receives an elevated burden of brominated flame retardant (BFR) pollution, with its estuary acting as an important sink. Resident cetacean species like Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) can serve as a bioindicator for the spatiotemporal dynamics of BFRs in the Pearl River Estuary because of their susceptibility to bioaccumulation, but prohibitions on sample collection from living individuals necessitates the development of non-invasive exposure assessment methods. In this study, physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling was used as a non-intrusive tool for assessing the exposure of N. phocaenoides to legacy and novel BFRs. Model-generated data were compared to concentrations detected in various tissue samples collected from stranded individuals (during 2013−2022) for further validation. Temporal trends in prey species concentrations were approximated through modeling-based approaches and observed data from blubber samples. The models were able to approximate the relative tissue distribution patterns of both legacy and novel BFRs, with the highest concentrations found in adipose tissue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that parameters relating to adipose tissue are most likely to affect model outcomes due to its function as the main reservoir of BFRs in vivo. Our PBTK modeling further supports the use of N. phocaenoides as a bioindicator for temporal trends of BFR releases from the Pearl River Delta region. Overall, the developed PBTK modeling can be used to assess the exposure and tissue distribution of legacy and novel BFRs for N. phocaenoides in the Indo-Pacific region. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

KW - Bioindicator

KW - Biomonitoring

KW - Cetacean

KW - Contaminant

KW - Non-intrusive

KW - Porpoise

KW - Temporal trend

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U2 - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107353

DO - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107353

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0166-445X

VL - 283

JO - Aquatic Toxicology

JF - Aquatic Toxicology

M1 - 107353

ER -

Exposure and tissue distribution analyses of brominated flame retardants in Neophocaena phocaenoides through physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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