Environmental mutagenesis in different zones of the Baltic Sea

• Abstract. Environmental mutagenesis was assessed in fish from the selected coastal areas of the Baltic SeaKvadofjarden and the Stockholm archipelago (Sweden), the KlaipëdaBûtingë zone (Lithuania), the Gulf of Gdansk (Poland) and the Wismar Bay (Germany). The frequency of micronuclei, as markers of cytogenetic damage, was evaluated in erythrocytes of 911 flounder (Platichthys flesus), 332 perch (Perca fluviatilis) and 458 eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) specimens. Fish was collected during bi-annual sampling campaigns performed in 2001 and 2002. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) regarding season and sampling location were recorded. The highest values of cytogenetic damage were registered in flounder from the Lithuanian coast near Palanga (autumn 2001) and from the Wismar Bay (spring 2001), in perch from the Lithuanian coast near Nemirseta (autumn 2001) and in eelpout from the Wismar Bay (autumn 2001). These values are 510-fold higher than the baseline level of micronucleus incidence. In general, the decrease in environmental mutagenesis was observed in 2002. Nevertheless a significant increase in micronucleus levels was determined in fish after the oil spill in the Bûtingë oil terminal

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

mutagenesis

fish

mussels

Baltic Sea

micronuclei

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)