CONTAMINANT ACCUMULATION AND BIOMARKER RESPONSES IN FLOUNDER (PLATICHTHYS-FLESUS L) AND ATLANTIC COD (GADUS-MORHUA L) EXPOSED BY CAGING TO POLLUTED SEDIMENTS IN SORFJORDEN, NORWAY

Flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) we re subjected to caging at polluted sediments in a Norwegian fjord (Sor fjorden) for a period of 3 months. Three caging sites were located clo se to metal smelters, whereas a fourth site was located 30 km away as a reference. In sediment samples, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), po lychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals were elevated at the innermost sites (1, 2 and 3) compared with the reference location (sit e 4). In fish, the biliary levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds (F ACs) were elevated 5-20 fold in both species at the polluted sites. A two-fold difference in heavy metal levels was observed in cod (site 2 vs. 4), whereas no differences were seen in flounder. Pesticides bioac cumulated in a diffuse manner at all sites. In flounder at the innermo st sites, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hepatic cytochro me P450 1A (CYP1A) dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) act ivity were elevated 4-5 and 5-10 fold, respectively, compared with the reference site. Both of these biomarkers were significantly correlate d with FACs levels. For other biomarkers, the site effect was more mar ginal. The biomarkers seemed in general more responsive in flounder th an in cod. The present study demonstrates biomarker measurements in ca ged fish as a promising approach for evaluating accumulation and effec ts of pollutants in marine teleosts.