Induction of EROD activity in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) by different polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs)

The present study investigated EROD activity in European eel (Anguilla angu illa) to see if this is a Suitable biomarker for PCBs. Time-course and dose -response studies were carried out with PCB-77. Various PCBs were then test ed; those chosen have shown induction in previous studies. Aroclor 1254 was included as an example of a commercial PCB mixture. Results showed that ER OD activity remains high three weeks after induction by PCB-77; EROD activi ties increased in a dose dependant manner but increases were not linear. Ee ls treated with Aroclor 1254 induced much lower EROD activities. The order of induction decreased from 2,3,7,8-TCDD to PCB-77 to PCB-169. PCBs 105, 11 8 and 153 produced levels of EROD activity close to me controls. The Europe an eel seems to be a sensitive tool as a biomarker for the most toxic PCBs (non-ortho substituted) but has a low response to Aroclor 1254 unlike many other species. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.