Biomarkers of exposure of brown bullheads to contaminants in the lower Great Lakes

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:218430

Arcand, L D; Metcalfe, C D ^[1]

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1. Trent Univ., Peterborough, Ontario (Canada). Environmental and Resource Studies Program

Brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) were collected from contaminated and relatively pristine sites distributed throughout Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Hepatic neoplasms were detected in bullheads from the contaminated sites of Hamilton Harbour (L. Ontario), the Black River (L. Erie) and the Detroit River, but no tumors were observed in bullheads from the relatively pristine Bay of Quinte (L. Ontario) and Old Woman Creek (L. Erie). Analysis of various biochemical markers of exposure to contaminants indicated that bullheads from the contaminated sites had elevated hepatic EROD activity, high levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACS) in bile, and alterations to hepatic retinoid levels. Bullheads captured in the Black River also had an increased incidence of micronucleated hepatocytes in comparison to fish from Old Woman Creek. Although the prevalence of hepatic neoplasms was highest in Detroit River fish, all biomarkers did not necessarily indicate that Detroit River fish were the most highly exposed to contaminants. These data indicate that a suite of several biomarkers should be used to monitor for in situ exposure of fish to contaminants.

• OSTI ID: 218430
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EVALUATION
FISHES
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
LAKE ERIE
LAKE ONTARIO
LIVER
MIXED-FUNCTION OXIDASES
NEOPLASMS
WATER POLLUTION