PARENT SESSION
80 - Biomonitoring and Assessment
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday, 15 May 2002
Exhibition Area

(80-13) Biomarker-directed fractionation to evaluate biologically-adverse anthropogenic substances in Stockholm's waterways.

kerman, Gun^*,1, Tjärnlund, Ulla¹, Grunder, Kerstin¹, Sundberg, Henrik¹, Zebühr, Yngve¹, Broman, Dag¹, Balk, Lennart¹, ¹ Laboratory for Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Institute of Applied Environmental Research (ITMx), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

ABSTRACT- Settling particulate matter was collected in sediment traps at three stations in Stockholm's waterways on a yearly basis (October-September) during a period of three years (96/97, 97/98 and 98/99). The collected material underwent soxhlet extraction with toluene and the obtained organic extract was designated the raw extract. This extract was then separated on a silica column by elution with n-hexane and acetone and the obtained fractions were designated the hexane fraction and the acetone fraction. Finally the hexane fraction was further fractionated into three fractions on an amino column using HPLC. Due to their content, these fractions were designated monoaromatic fraction, diaromatic fraction and polyaromatic fraction.The raw extract underwent intense chemical analytical characterisation including diaromatic structures, such as PCBs, dioxins and furans and polycyclic aromatic structures such as 15 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the raw extract and all isolated fractions were investigated for potential toxicity by exposure of newly fertilised rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs using the nanoinjection methodology. Mortality and deformity as well as CYP1A and glutathione reductase activity in liver tissue were used as biological endpoint variables.The results showed that the settling particulate matter contained high potential toxicity at all three stations, including sublethal effects. The major toxicity could be followed from the raw extract, via the hexane fraction, to the polyaromatic fraction. Minor correlation to the diaromatic fraction, despite the fact of high contamination of these compounds, strongly suggests that dioxins, furans and PCBs are not responsible for the major potential adverse biological effects studied in the area. Work supported by The Environment and Health Administration of the City of Stockholm and European Commission (contract EVK3-CT2000-00025, BEEP).

Key words: Biomarker-directed fractionation, fish egg