TRENDS IN HEPATIC-TUMORS AND HYDROPIC VACUOLATION, FIN EROSION, ORGANIC-CHEMICALS AND STABLE-ISOTOPE RATIOS IN WINTER FLOUNDER FROM MASSACHUSETTS, USA

Liver lesions including neoplasia and hydropic vacuolation have been d escribed in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) from sites in Bo ston Harbor, and were highly prevalent near the Deer Island sewage out fall. A marked decline in prevalence of neoplasia has been seen over t he period 1987 to 1993 in fish from near the Deer Island outfall. This decline in disease in Deer Island fish correlated with and probably r esulted from reported reduced chemical input over that time. Stable is otope ratios suggest that Deer Island winter flounder, in contrast to fish from elsewhere, fed significantly on sewage sludge-derived organi c matter prior to 1992 and that their along-shore movement is slight. Between 1991 and 1993 hydropic vacuolation remained much more prevalen t in flounder taken near Deer Island and another sewage outfall, than at sites distant (less than or equal to 45 miles) from the outfalls, H ydropic vacuolation prevalence correlated closely with content of chlo rinated hydrocarbon residues in the liver, and in particular with DDT/ DDD/DDE. This suggests that between 1991 and 1993 there was a persiste nt chemical-associated difference in fish from the planned and current outfall sites, and that monitoring of winter flounder will provide ne cessary assessment of altered chemical carcinogenesis risk during and after the switch to the offshore outfall planned for 1998. Copyright ( C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd