Abstract:

This dataset contains hepatic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in groupers collected aboard multiple research and fishing vessels (R/V Weatherbird II, F/V Brandy, F/V Pisces, F/V SeaFox) in the Gulf of Mexico from 2011-07-07 to 2017-07-30. The dataset contains the location, date, type of grouper, concentrations of various PAHs in liver tissue (ng/g w.w.), and the total or sum of the low and high molecular weight PAHs (ng/g w.w.). PAHs were extracted from homogenized liver tissues using QuEChERS EMR (Agilent Technologies, Bond Elut) and confirmed and quantified using an Agilent’s 7890B gas chromatograph (GC) coupled to a 7010 tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) operating in multiple reactions mode (MRM). The cruise documentation was provided for F/V Pisces, F/V Brandy, F/V SeaFox, and R/V Weatherbird II cruises (WB-1736, WB-1502, WB-1602, WB-1701, and WB-1731), led by chief scientists Dr. Steven Murawski, and Dr. David Hollander. This dataset supports the publication: Pulster, E. L., Gracia, A., Snyder, S. M., Romero, I. C., Carr, B., Toro-Farmer, G., & Murawski, S. A. (2019). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Baselines in Gulf of Mexico Fishes. Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills, 253–271. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_15

Suggested Citation:

Pulster, Erin L.; Mrowicki, Justin; Carr, Brigid; Murawski, Steven A.. 2019. Hepatic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in groupers collected aboard multiple research and fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mexico from 2011-07-07 to 2017-07-30. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-0g6x-wc84

Publications:

Pulster, E. L., Gracia, A., Snyder, S. M., Romero, I. C., Carr, B., Toro-Farmer, G., & Murawski, S. A. (2019). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Baselines in Gulf of Mexico Fishes. Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills, 253–271. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_15

Pulster, E. L., Gracia, A., Armenteros, M., Carr, B. E., Mrowicki, J., & Murawski, S. A. (2019). Chronic PAH exposures and associated declines in fish health indices observed for ten grouper species in the Gulf of Mexico. Science of The Total Environment, 135551. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135551

Purpose:

Data were collected as part of the C-IMAGE Gulf-wide surveys in order to characterize the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on benthic species.

Data Parameters and Units:

Cruise, Vessel (F/V SeaFox, F/V Pisces, F/V Brandy, R/V Weatherbird II), Principal Investigator, Year, Month, Day, Latitude (decimal degrees), Longitude (decimal degrees), Species name, Transect, Station, Fish ID #, PAH concentrations (ng/g wet weight), T46PAH (total or sum of the 46 PAHs analyzed, ng/g w.w.), TLMW (total or sum of the low molecular weight PAHs, ng/g w.w.), THMW (total or sum of the high molecular weight PAHs, ng/g w.w.) PAH=polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; ng/g w.w. = nanogram per gram of wet weight. Note: Zeros indicate levels were below the method detection limits.

Methods:

Liver samples were extracted using a modified QuEChERS (Bond Elut, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) method optimized specifically for these study species.

Instruments:

Extracts were analyzed using Agilent’s 7890B gas chromatograph (GC) coupled to a 7010 tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) operating in multiple reactions mode (MRM).

Error Analysis:

A performance-based QA/QC program was implemented to ensure acceptable levels of analytical accuracy and precision following the EPA’s Method 8270D and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s quality assurance and quality control plan for DWH Natural Resource Damage Assessment. The program included the analysis of solvent blanks, procedural blanks, sample replicates, matrix spikes, blank spikes, and matrix-matched standards.

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