Histopathologic and histochemical biomarker responses of Baltic clam, Macoma balthica, to contaminated Sydney Harbour sediment, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Sediments in Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia, are highly contaminated by polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. Histopathologic and histochemical evaluations were made on the Baltic clam, Macoma balthica, exposed to 11 Sydney Harbour sediment samples. Histologic lesions in digestive gland (tubular dilation or atrophy, macrophage aggregates, tubular cell necrosis, and tissue inflammation) and gonads (macrophage aggregates, supporting cell, germ cell, and ovarian cell necroses) were frequently detected in clams exposed to the most contaminated sediments from the harbor. Clams exposed to these contaminated sediments also had the highest acid phosphatase activity. The average scores of tubular dilation or atrophy, ovarian cell necrosis, and the sums of mean digestive gland lesions correlated significantly with sediment PCBs, and the activities of acid phosphatase correlated significantly with sediment heavy metals, PAHs, and PCBs. Among the lesions, digestive gland tubular dilation or atrophy, tubular cell, germ cell, and ovarian cell necroses, and the activity of acid phosphatase are the best sublethal effect indicators in Macoma exposed to Sydney Harbour sediments. Key words: biomarkers, chronic biologic effects, clams, histology, histochemistry, Macoma balthica, marine sediment, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls.
Tay
Kok-Leng
KL
Environmental Protection Branch, Environment Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. kok-leng.tay@ec.gc.ca
Teh
Swee Joo
SJ
Doe
Ken
K
Lee
Ken
K
Jackman
Paula
P
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D009336:Necrosis; D009674:Nova Scotia; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D000135:Acid Phosphatase