Biomarker responses as indication of contaminant effects in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from the southwestern Baltic Sea.
During a field study performed in spring and autumn 2001 and 2002, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) were collected at three locations in the Wismar Bay (Baltic Sea), and several biomarkers of contaminant effects were analysed. Besides seasonal and inter-annual variations, biomarker signals were most pronounced at the location closest to Wismar Harbour (Wendorf) in both species. Lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) was lowest and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was significantly reduced. Frequency of micronuclei (MN) was significantly higher (in blue mussels), indicating mutagenic effects. In eelpout elevated levels of DNA adducts, EROD induction and PAH-metabolites were measured. Metallothionein (MT), biomarker for trace metal exposure, showed a gradient only in spring. Organochlorine contaminant analyses (PCBs, DDTs) corresponded to the observed biomarker levels. The results obtained clearly demonstrate pollution effects in the southwestern Baltic Sea. Moreover, they show that a multibiomarker approach is also applicable in a brackish water environment.
Schiedek
Doris
D
Baltic Sea Research Institute, Seestrasse 15, D-18119 Rostock, Germany. doris.schiedek@io-warnemuende.de
Broeg
Katja
K
Barsiene
Janina
J
Lehtonen
Kari K
KK
Gercken
Jens
J
Pfeifer
Simone
S
Vuontisjärvi
Heta
H
Vuorinen
Pekka J
PJ
Dedonyte
Veronika
V
Koehler
Angela
A
Balk
Lennart
L
Schneider
Rolf
R
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001454:Baltic States; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010473:Perciformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D015415:Biomarkers; D018736:DNA Adducts; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase