title: Longitudinal profile of the genotoxic potential of the River Danube on erythrocytes of wild common bleak (Alburnus alburnus) assessed using the comet and micronucleus assay.
abstract: The Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3; the biggest river expedition in 2013) had offered the unique opportunity for a large-scale monitoring approach for biomarker response in feral fish collected along a Danube stretch from Kehlheim (DE) to Sulina (RO). The advantage of genotoxicity as a marker for pollution exposure in fish is the early detection of possible long-term effects such as cancer. Therefore, genotoxicity was in the focus of the biomarker investigations in fish during the expedition. Blood samples of common bleak (Alburnus alburnus) for the investigation of the micronucleus frequency and comet tail intensity of fragmented DNA material in erythrocytes were collected at 18 and 12 sampling sites, respectively. For 9 sampling sites same samples were used to compare the in-situ data for the comparable genotoxic endpoint in the micronucleus (MN) and comet assay (CM). The data of both in-situ assays showed a significant correlation, indicating the strength and comparability of the data sets. Significant variation in DNA damage in fish along the longitudinal profile of the Danube was demonstrated for both assays compared to reference sites. The results suggest that DNA damage in erythrocytes of fish was mainly affected by wastewater of highly populated regions. No linkage between the results and the general health/dietary status of the fish were revealed, whereas correlation with some genotoxicity drivers in the water phase, suspended particulate matter and sediments could be demonstrated.
authors: Institute for Environmental Research (Bio V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Deutschmann
authors: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Chair of Microbiology, Center for Genotoxicology and Ecogenotoxicology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Stoimir
authors: S
authors: Kolarevic
authors: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Brack
authors: University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Kaisarevic
authors: University of Belgrade, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Jovana
authors: J
authors: Kostic
authors: University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Margareta
authors: M
authors: Kracun-Kolarevic
authors: International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Wagramer Strasse 5, A-1220 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Liska
authors: University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Momir
authors: M
authors: Paunovic
authors: Institute for Environmental Research (Bio V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Thomas-Benjamin
authors: TB
authors: Seiler
authors: Institute for Environmental Research (Bio V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Shao
authors: University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Sandor
authors: S
authors: Sipos
authors: Environmental Institute, Okružná 784/42, 972 41 Koš, Slovak Republic.
authors: Jaroslav
authors: J
authors: Slobodnik
authors: University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Teodorovic
authors: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Chair of Microbiology, Center for Genotoxicology and Ecogenotoxicology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Branka
authors: B
authors: Vukovic-Gacic
authors: Institute for Environmental Research (Bio V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; College of Resources and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, 1 Tiansheng Road Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China. Electronic address: henner.hollert@bio5.rwth-aachen.de.
authors: Henner
authors: H
authors: Hollert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005060:Europe; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Comet assay; Danube; Fish; Genotoxicity; In-situ; Joint Danube Survey 3; Micronucleus assay