Multidisciplinary assessment of pollution at three sites in Long Island Sound. [Pseudopleuronectes americanus]

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Estuaries; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1351664· OSTI ID:5823522

Gronlund, W D; Chan, Sinlam; McCain, B B; Clark, Jr, R C; Myers, M S; Stein, J E; Brown, D W; Landahl, J T; Krahn, M M; Varanasi, U ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA (United States)

Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) were sampled from three sites located near Norwalk, New Haven, and Niantic, Connecticut, in Long Island Sound during February 1987, to evaluate the degree of chemical contamination and to determine possible effects of contaminant exposure. At each site, sediment ad infaunal invertebrates were also collected and analyzed for trace metals and organic chemicals. Specimens of liver and kidney from winter flounder were examined for histopathological conditions, including the presence of macrophage aggregates in liver tissue. Liver samples were also analyzed for DNA damage (i.e., the formation of adducts between DNA and chemical contaminants). Blood samples were collected and analyzed for erythrocyte micronuclei. The sampling site near New Haven was determined to be the most affected site, from the standpoints of greater chemical contamination and possible effects on winter flounder. Concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were highest in sediment from this site, and the highest prevalences of the histopathological changes and DNA alterations were also found in the livers of winter flounder from this site. No differences in the concentrations of contaminants in fish or in frequencies of erythrocyte micronuclei in fish blood were found between sites. None of the sites samples had contaminant levels or prevalences of lesions as high as previously found at other East Coast locations (e.g., Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, Raritan Bay, New York). Overall, the results indicate moderate levels of pollution at two of the urban sites in Long Island Sound and provide a framework for expanded studies to better define the extent and impact of chemical pollution in Long Island Sound.

• OSTI ID: 5823522
• Journal Information: Estuaries; (United States), Journal Name: Estuaries; (United States) Vol. 14:3; ISSN ESTUD; ISSN 0160-8347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ADDUCTS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONNECTICUT
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DNA ADDUCTS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ERYTHROCYTES
ESTUARIES
FISHES
GLANDS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
INVERTEBRATES
KIDNEYS
LIVER
LONG ISLAND SOUND
MACROPHAGES
MATERIALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SURFACE WATERS
TISSUES
URBAN AREAS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION