PAH metabolites in bile and EROD activity in North Sea fish

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) were sampled from areas with oil production in the North Sea. Egersundbanken, an area without oil production, was used as a reference site. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured in liver to estimate cytochrome P4501A levels. Bile was analysed by fixed wavelength fluorescence (FF) detection for polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites. No increased levels of EROD activity were detected in fish caught in the vicinity of oil production fields, when compared to the reference site, Egersundbanken. No differences in levels of PAH metabolites in bile were detected between the stations for any of the species. Therefore, contamination from 2–5 ring PAH compounds in the vicinity of oil fields in the North Sea may not be of great concern for these fish species.