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Induction of nuclear abnormalities in herring (Clupea harengus membras), flounder (Platichthys flesus), and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) collected from the southern part of the Gotland Basin—the Baltic Sea (2010–2017)

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Abstract

Eight nuclear abnormalities of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were studied in peripheral blood erythrocytes of herring (Clupea harengus membras), flounder (Platichthys flesus), and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) sampled (2010–2017) from the Polish and the Lithuanian Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the Baltic Sea. At all study stations, total genotoxicity (∑Gentox) was found to be higher than total cytotoxicity (∑Cytox). A significant time-related decrease in genotoxicity was detected in the Lithuanian EEZ (2015–2017), while in the Polish EEZ (2014–2016), the opposite tendency was revealed. The highest ∑Gentox and ∑Cytox values recorded in fish sampled at the study stations located relatively close to each other clearly indicate an increased environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity pressure for fish in these areas. Exceptionally high and high-level genotoxicity risks to herring followed by those to flounder and cod were determined at a higher percentage of the stations studied.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Thomas Lang ((Thűnen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Cuxhaven, Germany) for collecting samples from station B09 (December 2011, December 2012, September 2013) during the RV Walther Herwig III cruises.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Roberta Valskienė, Janina Baršienė, Laura Butrimavičienė, Janina Pažusienė, Milda Stankevičiūtė & Aleksandras Rybakovas

  2. National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, 1 Kollataja Street, 81-332, Gdynia, Poland

    Wlodzimierz Grygiel

Authors
  1. Roberta Valskienė
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  2. Janina Baršienė
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  3. Laura Butrimavičienė
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  4. Janina Pažusienė
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  5. Wlodzimierz Grygiel
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  6. Milda Stankevičiūtė
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  7. Aleksandras Rybakovas
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Correspondence to Milda Stankevičiūtė.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Highlights

• Environmental factor-induced nuclear abnormalities were studied in herring, flounder, and cod erythrocytes.

• Fish were sampled from 52 study stations located in the Polish and Lithuanian EEZs in 2010–2017.

• The assessment of environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity to fish revealed time- and zone-related differences.

• Exceptionally high and high level genotoxicity risks to herring were found at 96%, to flounder at 92% and to cod at 39% of the study stations in the Polish EEZ.

• Exceptionally high and high level genotoxicity risks to herring were found at 100%, to flounder at 86% and to cod at 33% of the study stations in the Lithuanian EEZ.

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Valskienė, R., Baršienė, J., Butrimavičienė, L. et al. Induction of nuclear abnormalities in herring (Clupea harengus membras), flounder (Platichthys flesus), and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) collected from the southern part of the Gotland Basin—the Baltic Sea (2010–2017). Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 13366–13380 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04687-0

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