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Hepatic EROD Activity is Not a Useful Biomarker of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure in the Adult Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

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Abstract

Liver concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chicken embryo hepatocyte (CEH) bioassay-derived 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TCDD-EQs) were measured in livers of adult herring gulls (Larus argentatus) collected from several locations on the Great Lakes and two reference sites. Total PCB concentrations (sum of 42 congeners) and TCDD-EQ concentrations were compared with hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, methoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (MROD) activity and immunodetectable cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein concentration. EROD and MROD activity were not significantly correlated with total PCB concentration or TCDD-EQ concentration in liver tissue. CYP1A protein concentration was significantly correlated with total PCB concentration, but the linear relationship had little predictive power. We conclude that EROD is not a useful biomarker of PCB exposure in the adult herring gull.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0H3

    Sean W. Kennedy, Glen A. Fox, Stephanie P. Jones & Suzanne F. Trudeau

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  1. Sean W. Kennedy
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  2. Glen A. Fox
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  3. Stephanie P. Jones
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  4. Suzanne F. Trudeau
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Correspondence to Sean W. Kennedy.

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Kennedy, S.W., Fox, G.A., Jones, S.P. et al. Hepatic EROD Activity is Not a Useful Biomarker of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure in the Adult Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Ecotoxicology 12, 153–161 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022594424983

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