Effect of long term exposure to petroleum on mixed function oxygenases in fish: further support for use of the enzyme system in biological monitoring

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Chemosphere; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(82)90168-0· OSTI ID:6730263

Payne, J F; Fancey, L L

A number of long term, low level petroleum hydrocarbon exposures were carried out from 1978 to 1981 in order to further evaluate use of the mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system in biological monitoring. The studies involved exposure, at ambient temperatures, of fish from three separate families including (a) spawning codfish (Gadus morhua), (b) post-spawned sculpins (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinous), and (c) gonadally maturing flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). MFO activity remained elevated approximately four-fold in the liver, and three-fold in the gills of codfish exposed for four months to water concentrations of 0.30-0.60 ppm petroleum, at -1-1/sup 0/C. Similarly, liver enzyme activity remained elevated approximately three-fold in sculpins exposed to very low levels (0.15-0.20 ppm) of petroleum for three months, at 4-12/sup 0/C. Results indicate that several years may be required before hydrocarbon concentrations are reduced in petroleum contaminated sediments, such as those heavily impacted by oil spills, to non-inducing threshold levels. Oil contaminated sediment was, even after a year of weathering, quite effective in inducing a high level of MFO activity (seven-fold) in flounder, at 11-6/sup 0/C. A number of factors that might detract from use of the mixed function oxygenase system in biological monitoring were not realized in these long term studies with petroleum hydrocarbons.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6730263
• Journal Information: Chemosphere; (United States), Journal Name: Chemosphere; (United States) Vol. 11:2; ISSN CHESB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BODY
CHEMICAL ACTIVATION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ENERGY SOURCES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FISHES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GILLS
GLANDS
LIVER
MIXED-FUNCTION OXIDASES
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGENASES
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SEDIMENTS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION