CONTAMINANT-INDUCED LYSOSOMAL MEMBRANE DAMAGE IN BLOOD-CELLS OF MUSSELS MYTILUS-GALLOPROVINCIALIS FROM THE VENICE-LAGOON - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Damage to blood cell lysosomes was investigated in vitro in mussels My tilus galloprovincialis collected from a series of sites in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy, and correlated with total tissue burdens for a rang e of contaminants. Retention of the cationic probe neutral red within the lysosomal compartment over time was used as a measure of damage to the lysosomal membrane. Multi-stepwise regression analysis was used t o explore the relationship between altered cellular physiology and tot al body burdens of contaminants. Organochlorines (DDT, HCH and Aroclor 1254), mercury and cobalt were the principle factors involved in evok ing pathological responses.