The aim of this study was to evaluate metals bioconcentration factor (BCF) in gills, liver, kidneys and muscle in relation with genotoxicity effects of metal mixture in peripheral blood, kidneys, gills and liver erythrocytes of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish were exposed to maximum-permissible waterborne concentrations of Zn – 0.1, Cu – 0.01, Ni – 0.01, Cr – 0.01, Pb – 0.005 and Cd – 0.005 mg/L, respectively for 7 and 14 days. Genotoxicity was studied using the micronucleus test. In addition, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) were analysed. Our study indicates that metal BCF in Atlantic salmon is tissue-dependent. Based on the BCF classification scale, the relatively low values of metals bioconcentration were assessed, except for Zn (gills) and Cu (liver) (359.6 and 594.0, respectively). Zn intensively concentrated in fish tissues, while Pb – least of all. Overall, metals were concentrated mostly in the liver, least – in the muscle. Significant differences among BCF values of Pb in gills and muscle and Cd in gills were measured between 7 and 14 d exposure groups. Treatment with metal mixture significantly increased micronucleus frequencies after 7 d of exposure in liver and peripheral blood erythrocytes. Significant genotoxicity response was not observed after 14 d treatment. The erythrocytic nuclei abnormalities determined in S. salar blood were nuclear bud on filament (NBf), nuclear bud (NB), blebbed (BL), kidney shaped, vacuolated (VacNuc), 8-shaped nuclei and fragmented-apoptotic (FA) erythrocytes. Significant elevation in total ENAs level was detected in kidneys and liver erythrocytes after 7 d treatment, while after 14 d – in gills and kidneys erythrocytes. No significant differences among analysed responses were measured between 7 and 14 d exposure groups, except total ENAs level in liver erythrocytes.

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Environmental genotoxicity in the Gulf of Riga was assessed using different bioindicators (fish, clams, and isopods) collected from 14 study stations. Comparison of genotoxicity responses (micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NB)) in blood erythrocytes of herring (Clupea harengus), eelpout (Zoarces viviparous), and flounder (Platichthys flesus) revealed the species- and site-specific differences. For the first time, the analysis of genotoxicity was carried out in gill cells of isopods Saduria entomon. The highest inductions of MN and NB in gill cells of investigated S. entomon and clams (Macoma balthica) were evaluated in specimens from station 111A (offshore zone). In fish, the highest incidences of MN were measured in eelpout and in herring collected in the southern part of Gulf of Riga (station GOR3/41S). Moreover, in the southern coastal area, the assessment of genotoxicity risk (according to micronuclei levels) indicated exceptionally high risk for flounder, eelpout, and clams.