Measurement of stress effects (scope for growth) and contaminant levels in mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from the Irish Sea

The objective of this research was to quantify the impact of pollution along the coastlines of the Irish Sea. Pollution assessment was based on the combined measurement of scope for growth (SFG), and chemical contaminants in the tissues of mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from 38 coastal sites around the Irish Sea during June-July in 1996 and 1997. On the UK mainland coast, the SFG showed a general trend with a significant decline in water quality in the Liverpool and Morecambe Bay region. High water quality was recorded along the west coast of Wales, as well as southwest England and northwest Scotland (clean reference sites outside the Irish Sea). Along the coast of Ireland there was a similar trend with reduced SFG within the Irish Sea region. SFG was generally low north of Duncannon and then improved north of Belfast. The poor water quality on both sides of the Irish Sea is consistent with the prevailing hydrodynamics and the spatial distribution of contaminants associated with urban/ industrial development. The decline in SFG of mussels on both sides of the Irish Sea was associated with a general increase in contaminant levels in the mussels. Certain contaminants, including PAHs, TBT, sigmaDDT, Dieldrin, gamma-HCH, PCBs, and a few of the metals (Cd, Se, Ag, Pb), showed elevated concentrations. Many of these contaminants were particularly elevated in the coastal margins of Liverpool Bay, Morecambe Bay and Dublin Bay. A quantitative toxicological interpretation (QTI) of the combined tissue residue chemistry and SFG measurements indicated that at the majority of coastal sites, c. 50 to > 80% of the observed decline in SFG was due to PAHs as a result of fossil fuel combustion and oil spills. TBT levels were highest at major ports and harbours, but these concentrations only made a minor contribution to the overall reduction in SFG. At no sites were individual metals accumulated to concentrations that could cause a significant effect on SFG. The study identified many sites where the observed reduction in SFG was far greater than predicted from the limited number of chemical contaminants analysed, thus indicating the presence of additional 'unknown toxicants'. Sewage (containing domestic, agricultural and industrial components) appears to be an important contributor to reduced SFG and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and As may provide suitable 'sewage markers'. There was a highly significant positive correlation between SFG and As (P < 0.001). This relationship may be due to reduced As uptake by algal food material and mussels at sites with elevated P04 concentrations (e.g. at sites with sewage inputs). Phosphate is a known competitive inhibitor of As accumulation, at least in algae. The results highlight that further research is required on 'sewage markers' in mussels. The SFG approach therefore provides a rapid, cost-effective and quantitative measure of pollution impact, as well as a means of identifying the causes through a QTI of tissue contaminants levels. It also serves to identify the presence of unidentified toxicants and areas that require further study.     

Geochemical characterization of the potential trace metal mobility in cohesive sediments

The Acid-Producing Potential (APP) and the Acid-Consuming Capacity (ACC) are introduced as basic parameters for long-term pollution assessment of mud disposal. They can be obtained by a four-step sequential leaching technique. The concentration of Ca extracted by the first Na-acetate step permits calculating the ACC. Both the Fe- and S-fractions deliberated by subsequent leaching steps are used to calculate the APP. When the APP of a sample is substacted from its ACC, a negative value indicates a potential increase of the bioavailability of the toxic metal load upon disposal of this mud in oxic environments.     

Histopathological changes in the liver of dab (Limanda limanda) from a contamination gradient in the North sea

As part of a joint workshop organised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) on biological effects monitoring techniques. dad (Limanda limanda) were examined from six spaced stations along a 200 km transect extending from near the mouth of the Elbe River out to the Dogger Bank in the North Sea. Based on historical data, differences in contaminant concentrations in sediments exist along the transect (lipophilic organic xenobiotics at the inshore sites and heavy metals offshore over the Dogger Bank). The most contaminated site sampled was the most inshore, the least contaminated was approximately midway along the transect, with contamination building up again over the farthest point along the transect, over the Dogger Bank. Multiple organs and tissues were examined for full pathology from each fish sampled. Only liver data are presented here (11–20 livers per station). The most significant lesions were considered to be well-developed foci of cellular alteration, high mitotic activity and high neutral lipid accumulation in livers from dab sampled from the most inshore site examined. Livers from the least-contaminated station showed minimal evidence of such changes. Foci of cellular alteration and neutral lipid accumulation were also seen in dab liver sampled from fish from the Dogger Bank site. Thus far, the hepatic changes seen correlate well with the most contaminated sites along the transect. The value of comprehensively examining the histopathology of an organ of toxicological significance, such as the liver in a European species of flatfish, is demonstrated.     

The vertical distribution of zooplankton in the western Irish Sea

Zooplankton diel vertical migration is evident on the mixed isothermal side of the western Irish Sea frontal system but is often influenced by large tides and persistent geostrophic currents. On the stratified side of the front, temperature acts as a controlling factor with most of the zooplankton occurring above the thermocline and carrying out pronounced vertical migration when chlorophyll a levels are low and diffuse. At higher chlorophyll levels, when discrete chlorophyll a maxima form, zooplankton vertical movement may be greatly modified with a large number of species and stages concentrating within these maxima at all times of the diel light cycle.     

中国多金属结核开辟区间隙水中铜、锰、镍的分布规律

通过对东北太平洋海域中国多金属结核开辟区沉积物间隙水中铜、锰、镍等微量元素的详细研究表明,锰主要受沉积环境的影响,其含量的变化范围在0.16～8.61μg/dm3之间;铜和镍则主要与表层海水的初级生产力有关,研究区内间隙水中铜和镍含量的变化范围分别为0.16～20.8和0.80～3.12μg/dm3,且这些元素在沉积物—水界面处均存在最大浓度梯度.利用“Fick扩散定律”计算表明,锰在研究区主要是从上覆海水向沉积物扩散,是沉积物中锰的主要来源之一;而铜和镍则是从沉积物向上覆海水扩散,是底层海水中铜和镍的主要来源。与表层海水中铜和镍向底层海水的输送通量计算结果相比,底层海水中铜和镍的含量主要受沉积物的控制.     

Evidence from heterologous expression of glutathione S-transferases A and A1 of the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) that their endogenous role is in detoxification of lipid peroxidation products

cDNA clones for glutathione S-transferases A (GST-A) and A1 (GST-A1) from plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) were expressed as N-terminally 6XHis tagged proteins in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity from Ni-NTA silica. GST-A was an efficient catalyst for conjugation of unsaturated alkenals derived from peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with the highest activity observed with trans-non-2-enal (8 micromol min(-1) mg(-1)). GST-A1 was a very efficient Se-independent glutathione peroxidase with an activity towards cumene hydroperoxide of 25 micromol min(-1) mg(-1). Although the enzymes exhibited moderately high activities towards the model substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) they exhibited little or no activity towards other common prototypical xenobiotic substrates. Together with data for ontogeny, tissue distribution and inducibility of these enzymes, we contend that a primary function of these enzymes is protection from the harmful effects of lipid peroxidation products generated naturally or exacerbated by xenobiotic exposure.