INDUCTION OF EROD ACTIVITY IN RED MULLET (MULLUS-BARBATUS) ALONG THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN COASTS

Induction of cytochrome P-450 1A1 was detected in the liver of red mul let by 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity specific for pol ychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) . An initial assessment of biological effects on a target organism (re d mullet) was carried out in the Gulf of Lions and along the Corsican coast in October 1991. Biochemical characterization indicated the opti mal conditions for analysis of EROD activity in routine monitoring. Th e implications for biological surveillance of the marine environment a re discussed relative to the inclusion of measurements of biological e ffects within the monitoring program for the French Mediterranean coas ts.