title: Sediment contaminants and contaminant levels and biomarkers in caged mussels (Mytilus trossulus) in the southern Baltic Sea.
abstract: Sediment from four southern Baltic Sea locations and caged mussels were analyzed for PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg). In mussels, which were additionally analyzed for 16 individual PAHs, a set of biomarker responses was measured to derive an integrated biomarker response (IBR) index as a part of integrative assessment of pollution in this area. Concentrations of PCBs, ΣDDT, and metals in sediment and mussels, greatest within the Gulf of Gdańsk area, showed decreasing gradients outwards from the Gulf. Sediment quality quotients (SQQs) and biological impact quotients (BIQs), reflecting on sediment- and mussel-accumulated contaminants' potential for biological effects, respectively, pointed out to the Gulf of Gdańsk to be of greatest concern among the examined sites. The IBRs corresponded poorly with the SQQs and BIQs, nevertheless, provided a line of evidence indicative of biological effects of contaminants to support more complex processes of environmental status assessment.
authors.affiliation: National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kołłątaja 1, 81-332 Gdynia, Poland. dabrowska@mir.gdynia.pl
authors.forename: Henryka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dabrowska
authors.forename: Orest
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kopko
authors.forename: Raisa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turja
authors.forename: Kari K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Góra
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polak-Juszczak
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warzocha
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kholodkevich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001454:Baltic States; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls