Toxicopathic liver lesions in English sole and chemical contaminant exposure in Vancouver Harbour, Canada.
The prevalence of toxicopathic liver lesions in English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) was determined along a presumed gradient of chemical contamination in Vancouver Harbour, Canada. Fish were captured from five sites in or near Vancouver Harbour, British Columbia, Canada. No toxicopathic lesions were observed in fish examined at the reference site (Howe Sound outside Vancouver Harbour), or at the outer harbour site. In contrast, 20-23% of the fish from three sites located in the central harbour, Indian Arm and Port Moody Arm had one or more types of toxicopathic lesions. Likewise, aromatic hydrocarbon (AH) metabolites measured in bile exhibited a gradient in levels from lower concentrations at the reference site to significantly higher levels in fish from Indian Arm and Port Moody Arm harbour sites. The occurrence of toxicopathic liver lesions was statistically associated with concentrations of AHs measured in sediment and AH metabolite levels measured in bile.
Stehr
Carla M
CM
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle, WA 98112, USA. carla.m.stehr@noaa.gov
Myers
Mark S
MS
Johnson
Lyndal L
LL
Spencer
Sylvester
S
Stein
John E
JE
D000818:Animals; D001955:British Columbia; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005432:Flounder; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000506:poisoning*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000506:poisoning*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical