Resistance to chemical stressors in embryo-larval fish from a marine Superfund site
- Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI (United States)
- Rutgers Univ., NJ (United States)
Several recent studies have demonstrated that estuarine fish chronically exposed to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs) are resistant to effects of those contaminants, as measured both by induction of detoxification enzymes and toxicity. A study was undertaken to examine the phenomenon of resistance to chemical toxicity in F. heteroclitus inhabiting the New Bedford (NBH) Superfund Site which exhibit some of the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the world. This portion of that study was designed to examine: (a) whether embryo-larvae of NBH are resistant to PHAHs; (b) whether this resistance is restricted to site-related contaminants; and (c) whether this resistance is correlated with reduced responsiveness to cytochrome P450 induction. To investigate the correlation between cytochrome P450 induction and toxic effects in embryo-larval fish, a novel, nondestructive in ovo fluorescence assay for ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activity was developed. Embryo-larval tests were conducted using whole sediment and aqueous exposures to samples such as PCB and PAH mixtures and single compounds, organic sediment extracts, and methylmercury as a reference toxicant.
- OSTI ID:
- 458293
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961149--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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