ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ON GOBY (ZOSTERISESSOROPHIOCEPHALUS) AND MUSSEL (MYTILUS-GALLOPROVINCIALIS) FROM THE VENICELAGOON, ITALY - BIOCHEMICAL-STUDIES

The use of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) and other measurements as biomark ers was investigated in liver of goby (Z. ophiocephalus) and digestive gland of mussel (M. galloprovincialis) from several sites in the Veni ce lagoon as part of the UNESCO-MURST Venice Lagoon Ecosystem Project. Most tissue contaminants (PAHs, PCBs, DDTs) and biochemical measureme nts varied seasonally. Elevated 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activit y and CYP1A-protein levels in goby were correlated with high tissue co ntaminant levels at the industrial Porto Marghera site. On occasions, activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and putative DT-diaphor ase (resorufin reductase activity) in male but not female goby were al so higher at Porto Marghera than other sites, but no differences were seen in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. A range of measurements ( SOD, catalase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and glutathione S-transfer ase activities, P450 and '418-peak' contents) in mussel showed little difference between sites. However, indications were obtained of elevat ed levels of CYP1A1-like mRNA, CYP1A-like protein and metabolism of be nzo[a]pyrene to free metabolites in mussels from the Venice lagoon com pared to a site in the Adriatic Sea. The studies demonstrate the usefu lness of CYP1A as a biomarker for organic pollution in fish and indica te some potential for its application in molluscs.