Monooxygenase activities in the liver of fish living in Lake Baikal and after treatment with waste waters from the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill

Abstract

Abstract The biological effects of the waste waters released by Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill were studied in fish collected from Lake Baikal. Fish were also exposed in laboratory conditions to known inducers of hepatic monooxygenase activities. We did not find any differences in monooxygenase activities of grayling and sculpins caught near the pulp and paper mill compared to control fish caught in the middle part of Lake Baikal. The results showed that the waste water treatment in the mill is effective. Usually the treated waste water enters the lake diluted up to 5% concentration. However, only at 20% concentration did the treated waste water induce hepatic monooxygenase activities in the fish studied in laboratory conditions.