Biological effects of environmental pollution in fish and mussels inhabiting Klaipėda-Būtingė area (Baltic Sea)

In June and September 2001 and 2002, acetyl cholinesterase activity, metallothioneins level, bile PAH-metabolites, lysosomal membrane stability, DNA adducts, micronuclei, other nuclear abnormalities, immunological response and histopathological incidences were measured in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and flounder (Platichthys flesus) collected along a suspected pollution gradient in the Lithuanian coastal zone (near Nemirseta, Būtingė and Palanga). The biomarkers in flounder from the Klaipėda offshore (reference site) zone were analyzed in December 2001 and 2002. The study results showed the lowest level of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in organisms inhabiting offshore and Palanga localities in spring 2001. The Palanga zone was originally considered as a coastal reference site, whilst an oil spill occurred in the Būtingė oil terminal in November 2001, causing contamination of this area. After the oil spill the significant increase in genotoxicity and cytotoxicity was detected in mussels and flounder from the Palanga and Būtingė localities. The levels of PAH metabolites, lysosomal membrane instability, as well as neoplastic lesions increased also significantly in flounder after the oil spill. Further elevation of cytogenetic damage caused by the oil spill in mussels was also observed in June 2003. Nevertheless, recovery of flounder was shown by some biomarker responses 10 months after the oil spill.