T6 PM Immune and Endocrine Disruption: Detection and Implication
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in 324-326

(IWA-1117-817858) Application of Immunological and Endocrine Endpoints to Assess Contaminant-Associated Biological Disruption in the Ashtabula River.

Iwanowicz, L^{1, 2}, Blazer, V², Ottinger, C², Devault, D³, ¹ Department of Natural Resources Conservation,University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA² USGS-Leetown Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneyville, WV, USA³ United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, MN, USA

ABSTRACT- Immunological and endocrine parameters are modulated by contaminant exposure and have been advocated as sensitive indicators of environmental pollution. Here we have used a number of physiological indices in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to detect contaminant-associated biological disruption in the Ashtabula River (AR) compared to a reference site (Conneaut Creek; CC). Based on previous work it is known that the AR is severely contaminated with hazardous substances including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated ethenes, hexachlorobutadiene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and low level radionuclides; however, there have been questions regarding the biological impacts of these contaminants on the local biota. In order to address this question, a multi-season health assessment was conducted from the autumn of 2002 though the spring of 2004. Bioaccumulation of specific contaminants including PCBs, hexachlorobenzene and others was verified via analysis of fish carcasses. Fish from the AR tended to have higher concentrations (5-9x) of these contaminants that those from CC. When immune function was assessed, bactericidal activity of adherent cells was found to be lower in both species from the AR. In contrast, respiratory burst activity of these cells was generally higher in the AR. Differences were consistent across species between rivers but differed temporally. Morphometric data and measures of tissue macrophage aggregates will be presented in conjunction with endocrine and functional immune data as evidence that fish from the AR have been biologically impacted due to the presence of contaminants.

Key words: environmental health assessment, brown bullhead, contaminants, immune