Contamination Of Marine Environment Research Articles

Biomarkers of marine pollution observed in species of mullet living in two eastern Mediterranean harbours

The activities of enzymes associated with xenobiotic metabolism and or oxidative processes, and the levels of aromatic DNA adducts, have been determined in the livers of grey mullet Oedalechilus labeo and Lisa ramada living in two eastern Mediterranean harbours. Glutathione peroxidase GSH P activity was 2.5 times higher 9 IU g-1 liver and glutathione reductase GSSG R activity was twice as high 2.5 IU g-1 liver in fish from the more polluted harbour at Mersin than in the harbour near Erdemli. Superoxide dismutase SOD activity was 25 lower 4.3 IU g-1 liver in the more polluted harbour. The concentrations of glutathione and malondialdehyde varied both with species and environment by a factor of 2.5-3. DNA adducts in liver were determined by 32P postlabelling. In Oedalechilus labeo in the more polluted harbour, adduct levels were 258 21 adducts per 108 nucleotides mean SE; two groups of Lisa ramada were distinguished having 261 48 and 30 6 adducts per 108 nucleotides, respectively. The average adduct level in a group of mullet of mixed species in the less polluted harbour was 3.3 2.3 adducts per 108 nucleotides. The results illuminate the ability of mullet to live in contaminated marine environments, and show that enzyme activities and liver DNA adduct levels can serve as indicators of marine pollution.

Validation of Bioassays for Assessing the Contamination of Marine Environments

Abstract Various biomarkers were used to determine the exposure of fish (Arius felis and Micropogon undulatus) from Galveston Bay (GB), Texas, USA to organic contaminants. Sediment levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in GB ranged from 81 to >1000 ng/g and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were <20 ng/g at all stations. No significant differences in hepatic concentrations of contaminants and ethoxyresorufin O–deethylase (EROD) activity, CYPIA mRNA levels, and DNA adducts were found in A. felis from GB. However, significant differences in biliary concentrations of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo[a]pyrene metabolites were observed. Induced EROD activities and elevated levels of biliary PAH metabolites were measured in M. undulatus from the two most contaminated sites in GB. Induction toxic equivalents (I-TEQs), derived from dosing rat hepatoma H4IIE cells with hepatic extracts of A. felis, were correlated with tissue levels of ≥4–ring PAHs.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes in Osilinus attratus from the coast of Tenerife (Canary Islands).

Anthropogenic compounds, derived from terrestrial and atmospheric sources, are subjected to physical/chemical/biological processes during their residence time in seawater ecosystems. These processes ultimately take part in the distribution and fate of contaminants in marine environments. In this way, sediment and particulate associated contaminants are available to aquatic plants and animals, which can accumulate petrogenic hydrocarbons from the marine environment in their lipid tissues even if pollutants are present at very low concentrations. This paper examines the content of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in specimens of the marine winkle Osilinus attratus Wood, common and prized as a food. 15 refs., 2 figs., 4 tabs.

Grain size effect on trace metals distribution in sediments from two coastal areas of Chile.

Marine environment contamination by trace metals has received increased global attention during recent years. Presently it is widely recognized that marine ecosystem can become contaminated by trace metals from numerous and diverse sources. However, anthropogenic activities, such as mining and industrial processing of ores and metals, still remain the principal cause of the increased amount of heavy metals which have been dumped into oceans. After entering the aquatic environment trace metals are distributed among water, biotic and sediment compartments, this latter serving as a final sink for metal pollutants. The magnitude of this scavenging action of sediments depends on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the sediments. Concentrations of trace metals in sediments are usually of a greater magnitude order than concentrations in water. Sediments were considered as an important indicator for environmental pollution, they act as permanent or temporary traps for material spread into the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the grain size effect on the copper, cadmium and zinc levels distribution in surface marine sediments along the Chilean Coast. 18 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.

Banking of environmental samples for short-term biochemical and chemical monitoring of organic contamination in coastal marine environments: the GICBEM experience (1986–1990)

The GICBEM (Groupe Interface Chimie Biologie des Ecosystèmes Marins) program consists of an evaluation of the ecosystem health status in the Mediterranean Sea mainly based on chemical and biochemical approaches. Specific chemical contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorobiphenyls (PCB), heavy metals) in waters, sediments, and related biotransformation indicators in target organisms (mussels, fish) have been selected for a complete survey of the coastal waters. In order to provide an appropriate sampling program for standardization for each sampling cruise, various aspects have been studied: (a) parameters for the choice of the sample sites; (b) ways of collection the samples (waters, sediments, marine organisms); and (c) preparation of the samples for a short term storage on board ship and for further analyses in the ground laboratory. Methods of preparation and storage of the samples are described and could be used to initiate an environmental banking program including both possible retrospective analyses of chemical pollutants and biochemical indicators. Moreover, the correlation between chemicals (PAH) and biochemical (mixed function oxygenase activities) parameters has been studied and this demonstrates the capability of the enzyme activities as reliable pollution biomarkers.

Classification of marine environment samples based on chromatographic analysis of hydrocarbons and principal component analysis

The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene/chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene/perylene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(ghi)perylene) and n-alkanes ranging from n-hexadecane (C-16) to n-dotriacontane (C-32) in sixty sediment and water samples from the southern Baltic Sea were determined. Since hydrocarbon concentration itself cannot be used for estimation of marine environment pollution, multivariate classification and comparison using principal component analysis (PCA) has been made on the data matrices. The connection of the principal component score values with the geography of the sampling area was investigated. Some suggestions on the usefullness of the aforementioned parameters for the estimation of marine environment contamination are given.

Parameters related to pollution by n-alkanes and PAH in Baltic water and sediments

Concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes in approximately 60 sediment and water samples from the southern Baltic Sea were determined. Since hydrocarbon concentrations alone cannot be used for estimation of marine environmental pollution, a number of specific parameters were determined additionally. These include the concentrations of selected n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon preference index (CPI) for n-alkanes, pristane to n-heptadecane and phytane to n-octadecane ratios and concentration of benzo(a)pyrene. Correlations among these parameters, as well as the connection of their values with the geography of sampling area were investigated. Some suggestions on the usefulness of these parameters for the estimation of marine environment contamination are also given.

Preparation and characterization of water-soluble fractions of crude and refined oils for use in toxicity studies.

The increase in oil contamination of marine and estuarine environments has led to concern about the effects of oil pollution on marine organisms (CONNELL and MILLER 1981). The most immediate toxic and subtoxic fractions of oils are those soluble in water (HUFFORD 1971), toxicity of oils to organisms usually being related to the content of non-volatile persistent aromatic hydrocarbons (ZIKTO and CARSON 1970r NEFF and ANDERSON 1975). Accumulated evidence indicates that mixing parameters and other factors may play a critical role in determining the quantity of oil and hence the aromatic hydrocarbons transferred to the water column (BOYLAND and TRIPP 1971; GORDON et al. 1973; WINTERS et al. 1976). This paper reports the results of an investigation of factors affecting the preparation of water soluble fractions of oils for use in toxicity studies. The use of synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for the characterization of fractions was also examined.

A simple spectrophotometric technique for the determination of pentachlorophenol in water

Pentacnlorophenol (PCP) and i t s sodium sa l t are the second most widely used biocides in the United States (CIRRELLI 1979) with the annual world production exceeding 20,000 tons (RAPPE & NILSSON 1972). The inevitable contamination of aquatic and marine environments resul t ing from agr icu l tura l and industr ia l usage of PCP has prompted a number of investigations concerning the fate and effects of th is chlorophenol in animals and the environment (RAO 1978).

Mathematical Models for Predicting the Transport of Radionuclides in a Marine Environment

A mathematical model to describe the transport of radionuclides from groundwater and fallout sources into and within a marine environment is described. Based on this model, expressions are derived for estimating the potential internal radiation dose to man due to his consumption of fish from a contaminated marine environment. These expressions give conservatively high dose estimates which can be compared with radiation-protection guides to determine the necessity, if any, of radiological safety measures.