Screening of hydrophobic DNA adducts in flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the Baltic Sea.
Neoplasia and other histopathological lesions in flounder (Platichthys flesus) liver have been investigated in several European sea areas, including the Baltic Sea. Several studies have been able to link neoplasm epizootics in fish with the exposure to genotoxins such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The level of hydrophobic DNA adducts in tissue DNA reflects the exposure of the organism to PAHs. Using hydrophobic DNA adduct levels as biomarkers, possible PAH exposure was assessed in flounder from 10 different sites in the Baltic Sea, collected during the years 1995-1997. The results show that the overall levels of hepatic DNA adducts were low and, in general, the chromatograms appeared clean. The highest levels of DNA adducts were found at two sites in the southern Baltic Sea. There were no statistically significant differences in adduct levels between the sites. Our results indicate that flounder from studied off shore sites of the Baltic Sea had not been exposed to a greater extent to large polycyclic hydrophobic hydrocarbons in their environment.
Laboratory of Aquatic Pathobiology, Department of Biology, Abo Akademi University, BioCity, Artillerigatan 6, FIN-20520 Abo, Finland. chira.malmstrom@orionpharma.com
C
C
Malmström
M
M
Konn
S
S
Bogovski
T
T
Lang
L-G
LG
Lönnström
G
G
Bylund
D000818:Animals; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005432:Flounder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
D018736:DNA Adducts; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical