Abstract
The levels of several environmental contaminants, including selected polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), organochlorines (DDT/DDE, hexachlorobenzene), 15 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzo-p-dioxins, PCDF/PCDD), and heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, and As) were analyzed in muscle and liver of three different flatfish species (dab,Limanda limanda; flounder,Platichthys flesus; plaice,Pleuronectes platessa) caught by gill netting at different sites in the Hvaler Archipelago. Indices of biochemical effects in liver S9-fractions were studied by measuring cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase activities, and by immunoquantitating cytochrome P450 1A1 using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Only low levels of PCDD/PCDF, Cd, and Pb were observed, whereas PCB levels were significantly elevated in fish from the inner sites of the Archipelago compared to a reference site. The contaminant gradient toward the Glomma estuary was correlated with increased cytochrome P450 1A1 activity, measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), and with immunoquantitated P450 1A1. In contrast, fish from the site at Idefjorden, although containing elevated contaminant levels, did not show elevated EROD activity, but apparently elevated P450 1A1 protein. These findings may reflect different pollution histories of the sites, and indicate the applicability of biochemical effect indices (i.e., EROD and P450 1A1 immunoquantitation) to monitoring studies. The integrated chemical-biochemical approach employed in this study can obviously be expanded to give fruitful information about cause-effect relationships in other contaminant situations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlborg VG, Håkonsson H, Waern F, Hanberg A (1988) Nordisk dioxinriskbedömning (with English summary) Nordic Ministerial Council, Miljørapport 1988:7, NORD 49:5–111, Copenhagen, Denmark
Andersson T, Pesonen M, Johansson C (1985) Differential induction of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase, epoxide hydrolase, glutathione transferase and UDP glucuronosyl transferase activities in the liver of the rainbow trout by β-naphthoflavone or Clophen A50. Biochem Pharmacol 34:3309–3314
Bagenal TB, Tesch FW (1978) Methods for assessment of fish production in fresh waters. In: Bagenal TB (ed.) Age and Growth, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp 101–136
Boon JP, Eijgenraam F, Everaarts JM (1989) A structure-activity relationship (SAR) approach toward metabolism of PCBs in marine animals from different trophic levels. Mar Environ Res 27:159–176
Boon JP, Mohan R, Everaarts JM, Hillebrand MTJ, Eggens ML, Peijnenburg J, van Ommen B, Goksøyr A (1991) Changes in levels of hepatic biotransformation enzymes and haemoglobin in female plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) after oral administration of a technical PCB mixture (Clophen A40). Sci Tot Environ, in press
Dawe CJ (1990) Implications of aquatic animal health for human health. Environ Health Persp 86:245–255
Elskus AA, Stegeman JJ, Susani LC, Black D, Pruell RJ, Fluck SJ (1989) Polychlorinated biphenyls concentration and cytochrome P-450E expression in winter flounder from contaminated environments. Mar Environ Res 28:25–30
Goksøyr A (1985) Purification of hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450 from β-naphthoflavone-treated Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), a marine teleost fish. Biochim Biophys Acta 840:409–417
— (1991) A semi-quantitative cytochrome P450IA1 ELISA: A simple method for studying the monooxygenase induction response in environmental monitoring and ecotoxicological testing of fish. Sci Tot Environ 101:253–261
Goksøyr A, Andersson T, Hansson T, Klungsøyr J, Zhang Y, Förlin L (1987) Species characteristics of the hepatic xenobiotic and steroid biotransformation system of two teleost fish, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 89:347–360
Goksøyr A, Larsen HE, Husøy AM (1991a) Application of a cytochrome P-450IA1 ELISA in environmental monitoring and ecotoxicological testing of fish. Comp Physiol Biochem, in press
Goksøyr A, Andersson T, Buhler DR, Stegeman JJ, Williams DE, Förlin L (1991b) Immunochemical cross-reactivity of β-naphthoflavone-inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450IA) from different fish species and rat. Fish Physiol Biochem 9:1–13
Haux C, Förlin L (1988) Biochemical methods for detecting effects of contaminants on fish. Ambio 17:376–380
Hogstrand C, Olsson PE, Haux C (1989) A radioimmunoassay for metallothionein in fish. Mar Environ Res 28:183–186
Julshamn K, Andersen KJ (1982) Subcellular distribution of minor elements in unexposed molluscs in Western Norway. I. The distribution of zinc and copper in the liver and the digestion system of the oyster (Ostrea edulis). Comp Biochem Physiol 75A:9–12
Julshamn K, Slinning K-E, Haaland H, Bøe B, Føyn L (1985) Analyse av sporelementer og klorerte hydrokarboner i fisk og blåskjell fra Hardangerfjorden og tilstøtende fjordomräder høsten 1983 og våren 1984. Report 6/85. Directorate of Fisheries. Bergen, Norway
Klotz AV, Stegeman JJ, Walsh C (1984) An alternative 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity assay: A continuous visible spectrophotometric method for measurement of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activity. Anal Biochem 140:138–145
Klungsøyr J, Wilhelmsen S, Westrheim K, Saetvedt E, Palmork KH (1988) The GEEP Workshop: Organic chemical analyses. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 46:19–26
Knutzen J (1984) Basisunders kelser i Hvaleromrädet og Singlefjorden. Milj gifter i organismer 1980–1981. Report 122/84. Norwegian Institute of Water Research. Oslo, Norway
Knutzen J, Green N, Lingsten L (1986) Forekomst av milj gifter i norske vassdrag og fjorder. Hovedrapport, Report O-85281. Norwegian Institute of Water Research. Oslo, Norway
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Malins DC, McCain BB, Landahl JT, Myers MS, Krahn MM, Brown DW, Chan S-L, Roubal WT (1988) Neoplastic and other diseases in fish in relation to toxic chemicals: An overview. Aquat Toxicol 11:43–67
Marthinsen I, Staveland G, Skaare JU, Ugland KI, Haugen A (1991) Levels of environmental pollutants in male and female flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) and cod (Gadus morhua L.) caught during the year 1988 near or in the waterway of Glomma, the largest river of Norway. I. Polychlorinated biphenyls. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 20:353–360
Murchelano RA (1990) Fish health and environmental health. Environ Health Persp 86:257-259ter flounder,Pseudopleuronectes americanus. Science 228:587–589
Oehme M, Manø S, Brevik EM, Knutzen J (1989) Determination of polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) and dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) levels and isomer patterns in fish, Crustacea, mussel and sediment samples from a fjord region polluted by Mgproduction. Fresenius Z Anal Chem 335:987–997
Prough RA, Burke MD, Mayer RT (1978) Direct fluorometric methods for measuring mixed-function oxidase activity. Meth Enzymol 52:372–377
Skei J (1984) Basisundersøkelser i Hvalerområdet og Singlefjorden 1980–83. Report 171/84, Norwegian Institute of Water Research. Oslo, Norway
Stebbing ARD (1989) Monitoring the North Sea: Biological techniques in an integrated strategy. In: ten Hallers CC, Bijlsma A (eds) Distress Signals, Proc. 3rd North Sea Seminar 1989. Werkgroep Noordzee, Amsterdam, pp 61–68
Stegeman (1989) Cytochrome P450 forms in fish: Catalytic, immunological, and sequence similarities. Xenobiotica 19:1093–1110
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goksøyr, A., Husøy, A.M., Larsen, H.E. et al. Environmental contaminants and biochemical responses in flatfish from the Hvaler Archipelago in Norway. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 21, 486–496 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183869
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183869