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Hatchery-reared juvenile oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were deployed in situ for approximately 1 month from mid-May to mid-June of 1996 at sites that were classified as reference, agricultural, suburban, or urban/industrial. Cellular responses (lysosomal destabilization, glutathione concentrations, lipid peroxidation, heat shock proteins, metallothioneins, and multi-xenobiotic resistance proteins) were analysed, and their efficacy as biomarkers of stress was evaluated. Increased lysosomal destabilization, glutathione depletion, increased lipid peroxidation, and induction of heat shock proteins and metallothioneins were observed at many of the polluted sites, but increases in multixenobiotic resistance proteins were not. Significant correlations between sediment contaminants and lysosomal destabilization or glutathione concentrations were observed. Similarly, there were significant correlations between sediment cadmium and copper levels and metallothioneins. Although elevated lipid peroxidation products and heat shock proteins were observed at some of the contaminated sites, there were no significant correlations with contaminants. These studies suggest that lysosomal destabilization and glutathione depletion are sensitive, robust indicators of contaminant stress. Although lipid peroxidation and heat shock protein responses were not correlated with contaminants, they are still regarded as valuable indicators of stress. These studies demonstrate the value of using a suite of cellular biomarkers to identify and characterize stress responses related to anthropogenic perturbations.