title: Biomarker responses as indication of contaminant effects in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from the southwestern Baltic Sea.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Baltic Sea Research Institute, Seestrasse 15, D-18119 Rostock, Germany. doris.schiedek@io-warnemuende.de
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schiedek
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broeg
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barsiene
authors.forename: Kari K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gercken
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Heta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vuontisjärvi
authors.forename: Pekka J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Vuorinen
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dedonyte
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balk
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018736:DNA Adducts; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase