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The responses of the hepatosomatic index (HSI), 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus 1758) caged at a polluted site: implications for their use in environmental risk assessment

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Abstract

The present study investigates the response of three hepatic biomarkers in adult sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus 1758) caged at a wastewater outlet of an oil refinery with fish caged at a pristine site used as controls. The biomarkers that were investigated were the hepatosomatic index (HSI), 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. In addition, we have measured the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and selected heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc) in sediment samples at the polluted site. Although the polluted site had high environmental levels of PAHs and heavy metals, there was no difference in hepatic EROD activity and HSI between fish caged at the polluted site and controls. On the other hand, GST activity was significantly lower in fish caged at the polluted site compared to controls. Our results point out that the studied biomarkers have limited use in environmental risk assessment studies, at least when caged adult sea bass is used as the sentinel species and complex toxicant mixtures are involved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20a, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia

    Luka Traven, Vladimir Mićović & Darija Vukić Lušić

  2. Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Primorsko-goranska County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia

    Luka Traven, Vladimir Mićović & Darija Vukić Lušić

  3. Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tvrtko Smital

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  1. Luka Traven
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  2. Vladimir Mićović
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  3. Darija Vukić Lušić
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  4. Tvrtko Smital
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Correspondence to Luka Traven.

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Traven, L., Mićović, V., Vukić Lušić, D. et al. The responses of the hepatosomatic index (HSI), 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus 1758) caged at a polluted site: implications for their use in environmental risk assessment. Environ Monit Assess 185, 9009–9018 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3230-3

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