title: The combined use of chemical and biochemical markers to assess water quality along the Ebro River.
abstract: Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and barbel (Barbus graellsii) were collected from five sites along the Ebro River. The study was designed to assess levels of persistent organic pollutants and metals bioaccumulated by fish, and some biochemical responses (cytochrome P450 system, phase II activities, and metallothioneins) against those pollutants. The highest levels of PCBs and DDTs were detected in carp from industrialised areas, which also showed high levels of mercury and cadmium in the liver, and high levels of nonylphenol in bile. Significant alterations in some biochemical markers were observed and associated to combined exposure to pollutants. The activity 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase ranged from 69 pmol/min/mg protein in carp from the reference site to 415 pmol/min/mg protein in those from polluted sites. Carp from the Ebro Delta, an agricultural area, had depressed acetylcholinesterase in muscle tissue. Metallothionein concentrations were positively correlated with copper residues, but no significant differences among sampling points were observed.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Department, IIQAB-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavado
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ureña
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin-Skilton
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torreblanca
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Ramo
authors.forename: Demetrio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raldúa
authors.forename: Cinta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps; D003530:Cyprinidae; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls