No abstract

Trace metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn) and total calcium content were measured in the gills of 2 marine fish (painted comber Serranus cabrilla and striped mullet Mullus barbatus) sampled in different stations in the cove of Cortiou, where the outlet collecting the waste waters of Marseille, France, is situated (NW Mediterranean). In parallel, the activity rates of some phase 1 enzymes (ethoxyresorufin-0-dealkylase. EROD; pentoxyresorufin-0-dealkylase, PROD) and phase I1 enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, GST) were determined in the livers of both species of fish. Cadmium and copper concentrations were highly variable for both species. Two sampling stations situated in the dispersion area of waste waters seemed affected by chemical pollution. At these stations, iron concentrations appeared to be higher in gills of S. cabrilla and M. barbatus Elevated iron concentrations were thought to be due to the water treatment plant, which uses iron chloride as a flocculant. Likewise, at both stations calc~um and cadmium concentrations were higher in M. barbatus. EROD and PROD activities appeared to be generally lower in the livers of S. cabriUa collected at both 'polluted' stations; GST activities did not differ according to the sampling stations. Enzyme activities (PROD and GST) in M. barbatus were lower at the stations in the dispersion area of waste waters. The results imply that heavy metals, which can also be accumulated in some target organs of fish, may lower biotransformation enzyme activities which are induced in the Livers of fish exposed to organics.

No abstract