A novel biopsy technique for monitoring environmental contaminants in fish.

Abstract

Biopsy techniques have long been used in animal studies (FISLER and DRENICK 1972, TREVIN0 et al 1973) and in various medical applications in humans (EDWARDS 1973). The methods do not appear fo have heen successfully applied in environmental samples involving small animals, birds and fish. This seems tobe attributable in part to the size of cote sample extractab!e with the biopsy instruments normally available. However, with the rapid advaneement of analytical techniques which perm 8 of the reliable ana!ysis of smaller and smaller samples, it seems timely to report on the successful use of a biopsy sampl 8 program dur 8 a large scale tagging of sea mullet (Mug 8 cephalus Linnaeus) from a poliuted estuarine region.