Multidisciplinary assessment of pollution at three sites in Long Island Sound. [Pseudopleuronectes americanus]
- 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), Vol. 14:3; ISSN 0160-8347
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FISHES
CONTAMINATION
LONG ISLAND SOUND
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ANIMAL TISSUES
AROMATICS
BLOOD
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONNECTICUT
DNA ADDUCTS
ERYTHROCYTES
INVERTEBRATES
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MACROPHAGES
METALS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
SEDIMENTS
URBAN AREAS
WATER POLLUTION
ADDUCTS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
GLANDS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
POLLUTION
SEAS
SOMATIC CELLS
SURFACE WATERS
TISSUES
USA
VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)