LAUFER, Hans*; DEMIR, N; PAN, X; STUART, J; KOEHN, U; Univ.of Connecticut, Storrs ; UCONN, Storrs; UCONN Storrs; UCONN, Storrs; UCONN, Storrs: Shell Disease in the Lobster May be Related to Alkylphenols

Shell disease (SD) is a disfiguring, bacterial infection of the carapace of as many as 70% of lobsters in eastern Long Island Sound. SD depreciates the animals� economic value, and may result in death.We found alkyphenols, which are endocrine disruptors, in the hemolymph of lobsters. These are long-lived anthropogenic pollutants resulting from plastics manufacture and degradation, from lubricants, detergents, among others. We have analyzed 134 inshore lobsters for alkyphenols by GC/MS with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/ml and have found them in 37 animals. Statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney Test. SD lobsters contain alkyphenols with greater frequency (42%, N=13 of 31) compared to unaffected lobsters (23%, N= 24 of 103).Four alkyphenols were found, #1: 2-t-butyl-4-(dimethylbenzyl)phenol; #2: 2,6-bis-(t-butyl)-4-(dimethylbenzyl)phenol; #3: 2,4-bis-(dimethylbenzyl)phenol; and #4: 2,4-bis-(dimethlybenzyl)-6-t-butylphenol. Compound 1 occurred in 29% (N=9 of 31) of SD, and at a concentration 8 times higher than in 9% of unaffected lobsters (N=7 of 103),(P**=.001). Compound 2 occurred in 13% (N=4 of 31) of SD lobsters at a concentration 945 times higher than in 9% of unaffected lobsters (N=7 of 103) (P=.127). Compound 3 occurred in 35% (N=11 of 31) SD lobsters at a concentration 4 times higher than in unaffected lobsters with 20% (N= 21 of 103) (P*=.047). Compound 4 was present in 35% of SD lobsters(N=11 of 31) with a concentration 20 times higher than in unaffected lobsters, which have this compound in 18% of the lobsters (N=19 of 103) (P*=.024).Thus, alkylphenols are found in greater frequency and in higher amounts in SD animals than in unaffected animals. We conclude that alkylphenols may play an important role in the production of shell disease in lobsters.(Supported by Sea Grant College Program and CT DEP)