PARENT SESSION
SP5 - DNA Damage in Aquatic Animals.
Chair: Lee, Richard1, 1 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA, USA
Co-chair: Steinert, Scott2, 2 4045 Hancock Street, San Diego, CA
2:10 PM to 5:30 PM - Sunday, 17 November 2002
Room Ballroom D
(122) Genotoxicity in Androscoggin River Smallmouth Bass.
Chamberland, Kim*,1, Whitaker, Blake1, Lindroth, Beth2, 1 Lewiston-Auburn College University of Southern Maine, Lewiston, Maine, USA2 Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
ABSTRACT- In order to better illuminate the genotoxic effects of a "complex mixture" of anthropogenic chemical toxins, we have employed the comet assay to measure the levels of genotoxicity induced in a sentinel animal species, Micropterus dolomieu, sampled from the Androscoggin River. For the past 200 years, the 175 mile long Androscoggin River has served as a power source and a convenient place to dispose of effluents consisting mainly of by-products from manufacturing and domestic wastewaters for a number of different industries. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) monitors levels of specific chemicals on an annual basis by sampling tissue from fish captured at specific sites along the river. The latest available results (1999) have shown high levels of PCBs and dioxins in fish tissue from two sites in particular, Riley and Lisbon Falls (MDEP 2001). We observed a significant correlation (R2 = 0.699) between the extent of genotoxic damage in nuclei from Micropterus dolomieu as measured with the comet assay and toxicity levels existing at specific sampling sites along the Androscoggin River. Our analysis reveals a significant level of genetic damage in Androscoggin River smallmouth bass that increases in a downstream gradient (R2 = 0.776) in parallel with toxic equivalent concentrations. Recreation is a major Maine industry and is subject to intense promotion. Prior to encouraging "recreation in an on" the Class C waters of the Androscoggin, it would be prudent to identify all potential risks to human health and fully inform the public.
Key words: genotoxicity, complex mixtures, fish, comet assay