Laura Andreikėnaitė

Risk of environmental genotoxicity in the Baltic Sea over the period of 2009-2011 assessed by micronuclei frequencies in blood erythrocytes of flounder (Platichthys flesus), herring (Clupea harengus) and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus).

Environmental genotoxicity was investigated at 82 locations encompassing different regions of the Baltic Sea. Micronuclei (MN) analysis was performed in erythrocytes of 1892 specimens of flounder Platichthys flesus, herring Clupea harengus and eelpout Zoarces viviparus, three of the most common native fish species of the Baltic Sea collected in 2009-2011. MN background levels in fish were determined using data obtained in 2001-2011 from 107 Baltic sites. Extremely high genotoxicity risk zones were found for flounder at 11 stations out of 16 in 2009 and 33 stations of 41 in 2010-2011, for herring, at 5 of 18 stations in 2009 and 20 of 43 stations in 2010-2011, in eelpout only at one out of 29 stations. The sampling stations were restricted mainly to the southern and eastern Baltic Sea offshore zones and in most of them, MN frequencies in flounder and herring significantly exceeded the reference and background levels of micronuclei. This is a first attempt to evaluate the background MN responses, as well as low, high and extremely high genotoxicity risk levels for native fish species.

Environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity levels in fish from the North Sea offshore region and Atlantic coastal waters.

In the framework of the ICON project, environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity levels were assessed in blood erythrocytes of dab (Limanda limanda) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) collected at 25 stations in the North Sea and near the coast of Iceland in August-October 2008. Micronuclei, nuclear buds and bi-nucleated cells with nucleoplasmic bridges were assessed as environmental genotoxicity biomarkers, and the frequency of fragmented-apoptotic and bi-nucleated erythrocytes were assessed as environmental cytotoxicity biomarkers. The lowest frequencies of genotoxic and cytotoxic abnormalities were detected in fish from the Icelandic study stations. The highest frequencies of abnormalities were recorded in dab from the Dogger Bank and the German Bight, in haddock from the Egersund Bank and from an area off the Firth of Forth (North Sea). In fish from the Icelandic reference area, frequencies of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity responses were significantly lower than in fish from most areas of the North Sea.

STUDIES OF MICRONUCLEI AND OTHER NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES IN BLOOD OF RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS) TREATED WITH HEAVY METAL MIXTURE AND ROAD MAINTENANCE SALTS

The frequency of micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds and bi-nucleated erythrocytes was analysed in peripheral blood of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), treated with a heavy metal model mixture (HMMM) and with a mixture of road maintenance salts in doses of real metal and salt concentrations in soil near the main Lithuanian highway. The absolute concentration (100%) of the HMMM solution was Cu 0.874; Zn 0.93; Pb 4.7; Ni 0.66; Cr 0.33 and Mn 18 mg/l. Four groups of fish, each consisting of ten specimens, were exposed to 21.79%, 10.89%, 5.45% and to 1.1% mixtures of HMM for 14 days. Additionally, four groups of rainbow trout (10 specimens in each group) were exposed to the solution containing 4.56, 2.28, 1.14, and 0.1825 g/l of road maintenance salt for 14 days and fish in one aquarium were treated with common salt (4.56 g/l). The control group of rainbow trout was kept in an aquarium with artesian aerated water. A statistically significant increase in micronuclei was observed in the rainbow trout after expos...

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in the bivalve mollusks Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis from the Baltic Sea@@@Genotoksinio ir citotoksinio poveikio įvertinimas Baltijos jūros dvigeldžių moliuskų Macoma balthica ir Mytilus edulis ląstelėse

Micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds (NB), fragmented-apoptotic (FA) and bi-nucleated (BN) cells were analysed in gills of bivalve mollusks Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis collected from fi ve study locations in Lithuanian territorial waters of the Baltic Sea. Th e frequency of micronuclei varied from 1.28 to 3.63‰ (MN/1000 cells), of nuclear buds – from 0.50 to 1.49‰, fragmented-apoptotic cells from 0.53 to 1.72‰ and of bi-nucleated cells from 1.51 to 2.23‰. Th e highest level of MN and bi-nucleated cells was determined in mollusks from the off shore Station 65, nuclear buds and fragmented-apoptotic cells from Station 1B located close to the Būtingė oil terminal. A comparatively high frequency of MN was observed in bivalves from the Būtingė oil terminal area – 3.38‰ in Station 1B, 2.85‰ in Station B06 in June and in mollusks from Station N-4 (2.66‰) located nearby the oil platform D-6.

Induction of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in blue mussels Mytilus edulis after 1-, 2-, 4- and 8-day treatment with crude oil from the North Sea@@@Branduolio pažaidų susiformavimas midijų Mytilus edulis žiaunų ląstelėse po 1, 2, 4 ir 8 parų poveikio Šiaurės jūroje išgaunama žaliavine nafta

), exposed to 0.5 ppm concentration of the dispersed oil for 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Induction of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NB) was assessed as the crude oil genotoxicity endpoints; induction of fragmented-apoptotic (FA) and bi-nucleated (B N) cells indicated the cytotoxicity potential of the oil. Time-related MN elevation incidences were detected in all experimental groups compared to the control group of mussels. Th e elevation of micronuclei increased progres-sively with increasing the duration of exposure – from 1.9-fold aft er 1 day to 2.4-fold aft er 8 days of exposure. Th ere was no signifi cant occurrence of nuclear buds in the experimen-tal groups. A signifi cant induction of fragmented-apoptotic cells (P = 0.0115) was detected in

Biomarkers of effects of hypoxia and oil-shale contaminated sediments in laboratory-exposed gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

In North-East Estonia, considerable amounts of toxicants (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, heavy metals) leach into water bodies through discharges from the oil-shale industry. In addition, natural and anthropogenic hypoxic events in water bodies affect the health of aquatic organisms. Here we report a study on the combined effects of contaminated sediment and hypoxia on the physiology of gibel carp (Carssius auratus gibelio). We conducted a laboratory exposure study that involved exposure to polluted sediments from oil-shale industries (River Purtse) and sediments from a relatively clean environment (River Selja), together with sediments spiked with PAHs. The oxygen content (saturation vs. hypoxia (< 2 mg/L)) was changed to reflect hypoxia. A multi-biomarker approach was chosen to enable the combined effects to be assessed comprehensively and integratively. We used HPLC to measure the PAH concentration in sediment and fish muscle, fixed wavelength fluorescence (FF) analyses to indicate the presence of PAH metabolites in fish bile, and nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes as markers of geno- and cyto-toxicity; and we monitored the change in body condition and measured EROD activity to indicate CYP1A induction. High levels of PAH conjugates in fish bile were found in the group exposed to the Purtse River sediment under hypoxia. The results suggested that induction of the CYP1A gene was modulated by hypoxia as well as by heavy metals. We found a correlation between several erythrocyte abnormalities (8-shaped nuclei and blebbed nuclei) and PAH metabolite content in fish. In conclusion, a measurable effect of pollution from the oil-shale industry on fish health parameters was clear under different oxygen levels.