DNA damage, severe organ lesions and high muscle levels of As and Hg in two benthic fish species from a chemical warfare agent dumping site in the Mediterranean Sea.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the environmental threat to benthic species from chemical weapons dumped in the southern Adriatic Sea. An ecotoxicological approach using chemical analysis and biological responses was applied, in two sentinel species: the Blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus and European conger Conger conger. Specimen were collected in a stretch of sea, where had been dumped war materials and from a reference site free of ordnance. Residues of yperite, Hg and As were measured in fish fillets. Skin, liver, kidney and spleen were examined for histopathological and macroscopical lesions. Liver detoxifying capacities (EROD and UDPGT) and genotoxicity (comet assay) were also investigated. As and Hg levels were three-four times higher than those from the reference site in both species (p<0.001). Both species captured in dumping site showed clear signs of chronic illness according to the health assessment index (HAI). Deep ulcers and nodules were observed on skin and external organs. Histological lesions such as periportal and bile duct fibrosis, pericholangitis, steatosis, granuloma and elevated splenic MMCs were detected in liver and spleen. Significantly higher EROD activities were also found in both species from dumping site (p<0.01). Comet assay revealed genotoxicty in gills of C. conger from dumping site, indicating uptake of chemical warfare agents through fish gills. European conger was found to be a more sensitive bioindicator of this type of contamination than the Blackbelly rosefish.
Della Torre
Camilla
C
Department of Environmental Sciences G. Sarfatti, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Petochi
Tommaso
T
Corsi
Ilaria
I
Dinardo
Maria Maddalena
MM
Baroni
Davide
D
Alcaro
Luigi
L
Focardi
Silvano
S
Tursi
Angelo
A
Marino
Giovanna
G
Frigeri
Antonio
A
Amato
Ezio
E
D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D020552:Comet Assay; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004524:Eels / Q000502:physiology*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
D001152:Arsenicals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D007220:Industrial Waste; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase