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ABSTRACT: Sediments in the Hudson-Raritan estuary are known to contain high concentrations of anthropogenic contaminants, and marine organisms from this region exhibit numerous contaminant-related effects. To assess the pattern of sediment toxicity in depositional areas of this region, and to compare lethal and sublethal end points for different bioassay organisms, three benthic marine invertebrate species were exposed to sediments from 17 sites in the Hudson-Raritan estuary. Growth and mortality of the polychaete Armandia brevis and the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus were measured in all 17 sediments, while mortality and reburial ability of the amphipod Rhepoxinius abronius were assessed in nine sediments. Growth of polychaetes was determined by measuring the difference in weight after a 20-d exposure, whereas growth of sand dollars was assessed by measuring the difference in length and weight after a 28-d exposure. Amphipod mortality and reburial tests were conducted using the standard 10-d sediment bioassay. Significant growth reduction of polychaetes and sand dollars occurred in 11 of 17, and 3 of 17 sediments, respectively. Polychaete weight and sand dollar length correlated inversely and significantly with total sediment concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and some selected elements. In contrast, significant mortality of polychaetes and amphipods occurred in 1 of 17 and 2 of 9 sediments, respectively, and impaired reburial ability of amphipods was not observed. Results of this study demonstrate that sediment contamination at depositional sites with the Hudson-Raritan estuary has potential to cause deleterious biological effects in indigenous benthic organisms. In addition, sublethal growth bioassays using polychaetes and sand dollars appear to be more sensitive in measuring the effects of sediment contamination than does the mortality-based bioassay using the amphipod Rhepoxinius abronius.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 10/2009; 14(11):1931 - 1940. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A suite of chemical and biochemical variables responsive to contaminant exposure was measured in three species of benthic flatfish (English sole, Parophrys vetulus, rock sole, Lepidopsetta bilineata, and starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus) sampled from up to five sites in Puget Sound, Washington, to assess the sensitivity of the parameters to differences in levels of contaminant exposure The examined indexes were levels of (a) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in liver, (b) fluorescent aromatic compounds in bile, (c) hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and ethoxy-resorufin O deethylase, (d) total hepatic GSH and (e) hydrophobic DNA xenobiotic adducts in liver as measured by 32P postlabeling The sediment concentrations of PCBs and the sum of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at the sampling sites ranged from 21 to 570 and 21 to 5,300 ng/g wet weight sediment, respectively The results showed (a) that all the examined indexes could discriminate among sites exhibiting different degrees of chemical contamination, (b) that species differed in the range of response of most of the measured indexes, and (c) that the use of the indexes in concert appeared to enhance the assessment of contaminant exposure and sublethal effects
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 04/1992; 11(5):701 - 714. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Mortality, abnormal morphology, growth, DNA and protein content of larval surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) were evaluated after 96-h exposures to contaminated sediments from Puget Sound, Washington. Radiolabeled polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) added to sediment were accumulated by exposed larvae, providing evidence of an exposure route for hydrophobic compounds from the sediment to the larvae. Sediment mixtures with high concentrations of contaminants were often acutely toxic, while exposure to diluted sediments resulted in sublethal changes—decreases in growth and DNA content. The DNA content of larvae was found to be the most sensitive of the sublethal measures. Both DNA content and the proportion of normal larvae were inversely related to PAH and PCB concentrations of test sediments. The results suggest that measurement of DNA content in conjunction with determination of the proportion of normal larval surf smelt can provide better discrimination for assessing toxicity due to contaminants in this sediment bioassay system than measurement of mortality alone. Because some larval fish may be at risk to sediment-associated contaminants, this bioassay may be useful for assessing the effects on larval marine fishes exposed to contaminants.
Marine Environmental Research.
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ABSTRACT: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was injected intraperitoneally into English sole (Parophrys vetulus) to determine relationships between induced lesions of liver and kidney tissue and serum indicators of tissue damage. The CCl4 doses used were from 4 to 63% of the 96-h LC50 (4.8 ml CCl4/kg). Within 48 h post injection, histopathological changes in liver ranged from subcapsular hepatocellular coagulation necrosis with sinusoidal congestion to coagulation necrosis of centrally located hepatocytes and hepatocellular fatty change. Kidney lesions were minor at low doses of CCl4 but at higher doses pyknosis, microvacuolar degeneration, scalloping of the brush border and frank necrosis of the tubular epithelium in the second proximal kidney tubule were seen. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) activities were correlated with specific liver lesions. In addition, serum glucose was elevated 8 h after CCl4 injection, whereas serum albumin, total protein, bilirubin and urea nitrogen did not significantly change in relation to liver lesions after CCl4 exposure. Serum phosphate was found to be elevated in fish with kidney lesions. Serum creatinine, magnesium and calcium also reflected kidney damage, but only at the higher CCl4 concentrations. These studies suggest that some, but not all, of the classically used serum chemical indices of damage in liver and kidney tissue have diagnostic and prognostic utility for this species of marine fish.
Aquatic Toxicology.
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ABSTRACT: 1.1. The accumulation of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) kv English sole (Parophrys vetulus) exposed for up to 108 days to an urban (test) sediment was compared to that for English sole exposed to sediment from a reference area. The concentrations of identified AHs and PCBs in the test sediment were 32 μg/g dry weight and 2·2 μg/g dry weight, respectively. English sole exposed to test and reference sediments for 108 days had biliary concentrations of aromatic compounds fluorescing at BaP wavelengths of 0·6 μg/g, wet weight and hepatic concentrations of PCBs of 1·4 ± 0·6 μg/g wet weight which were ten and eight times, respectively, as great as those in reference sole. These results show that accumulation of AHs and PCBs from sediment by English sole is a significant route of uptake in contaminated environments.2.2. 3H-benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and 14C-PCBs were added to the test sediment to compare the uptake and metabolism of BaP to that of PCBs by sole. Steady-state concentrations of 3H-BaP and 14C-PCBs in tissues and fluids were reached by 4 days and 14 days, respectively. At steady state, the level of covalent binding of 3H-BaP to hepatic proteins in test sole was six times greater than that of 14C-PCBs, and there was significantly greater relative formation of BaP-glutathione (GSH) conjugates than PCB-GSH conjugates. Thus, the amount of BaP metabolized to reactive metabolites was greater than that for PCBs, even though the concentration of 14C-PCBs in liver of test sole was five times as great as that of 3H-BaP.3.3. Trace amounts of 3H-BaP were also added to the reference sediment to determine how simultaneous exposure of English sole to those contaminants already present in the test sediment affected the metabolism and disposition of BaP. The 3H-BaP concentration ratios for liver to sediment and bile to sediment, as well as proportions of biliary BaP-GSH conjugates in test sole, were significantly greater than in reference sole. Thus, the formation and accumulation of potentially toxic metabolites of a carcinogenic AH (BaP) in sole liver were increased by simultaneous exposure to contaminants present in an urban sediment.
Marine Environmental Research. 22(2):123-149.
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ABSTRACT: A suite of chemical and biochemical parameters was measured in three species of benthic flatfish (English sole, Parophrys vetulus; rock sole, Lepidopsetta bilineata; and starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus) sampled from up to five sites in Puget Sound, WA, USA, to assess the sensitivity of the parameters to differences in levels of contaminant exposure and the relative merit of the use of a suite of indices for assessing exposure and sublethal effects. The indices examined were hepatic levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and biliary fluorescent aromatic-compound concentrations, hepatic activities of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, and levels of total hepatic GSH and hydrophobic DNA-xenobiotic adducts; the last-mentioned were determined by using the 32P-postlabeling assay. The results showed that the indices examined could discriminate among sites exhibiting different degrees of chemical contamination; however, species differences in the range of response of some indices were observed. Additionally, the use of multiple indices appeared to enhance the assessment of contaminant exposure and sublethal effects.
Marine Environmental Research.
