A retrospective analysis to explore the applicability of fish biomarkers and sediment bioassays along contaminated salinity transects

Abstract

Schipper, C. A., Lahr, J., van den Brink, P. J., George, S. G., Hansen, P-D., da Silva de Assis, H. C., van der Oost, R., Thain, J. E., Livingstone, D., Mitchelmore, C., van Schooten, F-J., Ariese, F., Murk, A. J., Grinwis, G. C. M., Klamer, H., Kater, B. J., Postma, J. F., van der Werf, B., and Vethaak, A. D. 2009. A retrospective analysis to explore the applicability of fish biomarkers and sediment bioassays along contaminated salinity transects. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 2089–2105. Biological-effects monitoring in estuarine environments is complex as a result of strong gradients and fluctuations in salinity and other environmental conditions, which may influence contaminant bioavailability and the physiology and metabolism of the organisms. To select the most robust and reliable biological-effect methods for monitoring and assessment programmes, a large-scale field study was conducted in two estuarine transects in the Netherlands. The locations ranged from heavily polluted harbour areas (the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam) to cleaner coastal and freshwater sites. Assessment methods used included a variety of biomarkers in flounder (Platichthys flesus) and a range of in vitro (sediment extracts) and in vivo bioassays. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to investigate correlations and relationships between various biological effects and contaminant levels in flounder liver or sediments. Several biological methods seemed to be too much affected by salinity differences for routine use in estuaries. The most discriminative biomarkers in the study were hepatic metallothionein content and biliary 1-OH pyrene in fish. Mechanism-based in vitro assays DR-CALUX and ER-CALUX applied to sediment extracts for screening of potential toxicity were much more responsive than in vivo bioassays with macro-invertebrates using survival as an endpoint.

A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review

“…CYP1A activity in fish studied in situ was higher when exposed to sediments with elevated metal concentrations; the differential activity of this enzyme could be used to separate effects of organic contamination from metal contamination [ 96 , 97 ]. The changes in CYP1A activity, however, did not necessarily correlate with metals levels in the water column or metals accumulated in fish tissue [ 86 ], as shown by the mixed response observed in some studies [ 97 , 98 ]. The absence of a relationship between CYP1A activity and metal concentrations is possibly due to the sediments also being contaminated with organic contaminants which are known to induce the CYP1A enzyme due to its role in detoxification of PAHs [ 96 , 97 , 99 ].…”

“…This variability is likely due to species-specific responses [ 83 , 101 ], tissue-specific responses [ 113 ], seasonal and annual variations [ 114 ] and responses to contaminants other than metals (e.g. organics [ 97 , 98 ]). For example, GST activity was generally higher in liver tissue in Cynoglossus arel from polluted locations, but not so in Acanthopagrus latus even though hepatic metal bioaccumulation was confirmed [ 83 ].…”

“…cephalus , hepatic CAT activity showed a significant negative response to contaminated water [ 72 ], but was also shown to be influenced by season [ 114 ]. In addition to season, the variability in CAT responses documented in field studies is likely due to salinity, location, and species [ 98 , 102 , 103 , 121 , 122 ]. Duration of exposure also affects CAT activity, with response in the liver of S .…”

“…Fish muscle contains both, while fish brains only contain the former. Nine studies used ChE as a biomarker in fish exposed to metals under field conditions [ 93 , 98 , 100 , 104 , 106 , 123 , 128 , 146 , 147 ], with variable responses reported ( S19 Table ). Most studies measuring ChE activity in the liver did not identify a response in fish exposed to contaminated sediment [ 100 , 112 , 147 ], while other studies showed a mixed or negative response [ 98 , 106 ].…”

Sediments in the Tema Harbour (Ghana): chemical pollution and sedimentation rates

“…Thus, the Tema Harbour sediments can be a significant source of metal bioaccumulation for benthic organisms with potential adverse impact on the aquatic food chain. Although the degree of contamination in harbours may be evident from the contamination patterns in the sediments and from biomarkers (de Boer et al, 2001;Schipper et al, 2009), this is not always evident ).…”