Implications of oil pollution in production of disease in marine organisms

Abstract

Contamination of marine waters by petroleum, whether as a consequence of acute or chronic events, constitutes an additional source of stress for marine organisms — one often reflected in pathological changes. Morphological, behavioural, physiological or biochemical abnormalities may result from exposure to petroleum or its component chemicals. Among the morphological changes that have been associated, at least circumstantially, with petroleum contamination of marine habitats are (for fish) fin erosion, fin ray deformation, ovarian histopathology, olfactory lesions, degeneration of ventricular myocardium and cytogenetic anomalies; and (for invertebrates) tissue hyperplasia, gill and gut epithelial necrosis, gonadal tumours and kidney tubule occlusion. Literature on petroleum-associated diseases and abnormalities of fish and shellfish can best be summarized in four major categories: that dealing with integumental lesions offish; that concerned with various other kinds ofhistopathologies, usually experimentally induced; that emphasizing neoplasms of molluscs, and that related to genetic and morphological abnormalities in eggs and larvae, as a consequence of exposure to petroleum or its components. A. general conclusion is that petroleum, in sufficient concentration, can be toxic to marine animals, and toxicity may be expressed as morphological changes. . Some of the effects of petroleum, such as the enhancement of latent viral infections in clams and immunosuppression in fish, are quite probably associated with increased stress. The development of neoplasia and hyperplasia in petroleum-exposed marine animals deserves further examination, as does the entire matter of pollution-related integumental lesions.