Biomarker sensitivity for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in two marine fish species collected in Galveston Bay, Texas

Abstract

Abstract-The Galveston Bay estuary exhibited a contamination gradient for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, and the comparative sensitivity of various biomarkers in fish from different bay locations were determined. Two fish species, hardhead catfish (Arius felis) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogon undulatus), were collected from four stations where sediment total PAHs ranged from 68 to Ͼ1,000 ng/g. The induction of cytochrome P4501A-(CYP1A-) dependent hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, CYP1A mRNA levels, or CYP1A immunoreactive protein in hardhead catfish was highly variable in the field-collected fish and in fish dosed with up to 15 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). In contrast, significant differences were seen in biliary concentrations of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and BaP metabolites in hardhead catfish from polluted versus less polluted areas. In croakers taken from the same four Galveston Bay locations, EROD and glutathione Stransferase activities, immunoreactive CYP1A protein, biliary PAH metabolites, and PAH-DNA adducts were higher at the contaminated stations compared with less polluted locations. These studies suggest that the croaker is a good species for monitoring contaminants that induce CYP1A-mediated responses. Biliary PAH metabolites and PAH-DNA adducts were also sensitive indicators of exposure to PAH contamination in both species of fish.

The ?Coral Bulker? Fuel Oil Spill on the North Coast of Portugal: Spatial and Temporal Biomarker Responses in Mytilus galloprovincialis

“…In vertebrates, induction of specific GSTs following exposure to diverse agents such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been well documented (Armknecht et al, 1998;Stien et al, 1998;Willett et al, 1997). However, conflicting results have been reported regarding GSTs induction by these sorts of contaminants in mussels, particularly following exposure to PAH-type compounds (Akcha et al, 2000;Michel et al, 1993).…”

Hepatic gene expression in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to different hydrocarbon mixtures

“…Upregulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A is one commonly used biomarker for oil exposure [2][3][4]. Other biomarkers include PAH adducts [5,6] and biliary fluorescent aromatic hydrocarbons (FAHs) [7,8].…”

Integrated Biomonitoring of Dioxin-like Compounds for Waste Management and Environment.

“…In vivo EROD assay has been conducted as a biomarker of exposure to PHAHs. Liver microsome containing CYP1A1 is extracted from animals such as rat, mouse, fish and wild bird, and their EROD activity can be measured [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] .…”