SOME ASPECTS OF LEAD ECOTOXICOLOGY IN THE MARINE-ENVIRONMENT

While lead emissions have been reduced in Western Europe, they remain high in Eastern Europe and may enter the marine environment through ra infall and dry deposits. Thus, it appears necessary to understand the ecotoxicology of lead in the marine environment. Induction of metallot hionein-like protein synthesis by lead in marine animals was not found in the literature, whereas the immobilization of lead in a chemically inert form might be a general detoxification process. Few results hav e been published on lead processes of intracellular toxicity in marine organisms. Unstable tetraethyl lead can be rapidly taken up by marine organisms probably through controlled diffusion processes. Once insid e the organisms, this compound can be dealkylated into an ionized chem ical species and react at the molecular level within the cell. Lead ma y affect some biochemical functions. A destabilization of the membrane s of lysosomes has been reported in invertebrates contaminated by lead . Some effects on populations 'and ecosystems are reviewed. In control led ecosystems, tetraethyl lead, although unstable, can persist in sed iments placed at a depth of 5 m and exert a toxic influence on the fau na.