FIELD APPLICATIONS OF THE PISCINE ANAPHASE ABERRATION TEST - LESSONS FROM THE EXXON-VALDEZ OIL-SPILL

Several large-scale genotoxicity assessments have been performed in co astal marine areas that have demonstrated either localized or widespre ad genetic effects resulting from human activity. One common assessmen t method is the anaphase aberration test, a measurement of abnormal ch romosome division, using embryolarval fishes. It can be used to detect the presence of mutagens within a poorly characterized complex mixtur e or monitor specific genotoxins and is easily adapted for laboratory screening. One comprehensive marine genotoxicity assessment was conduc ted using Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) in Prince William Sound (PWS), AK in late March 1989, In early May, genetic damage was detected at many sites within the oi l trajectory and was correlated with concentrations of polycyclic arom atic hydrocarbons characteristic of Exxon Valdez oil (EVO) in intertid al mussels. Effects were related spatially and temporally to oil expos ure. Anaphase aberration rates decreased throughout May and June 1989, and by 1991, genotoxicity was undetectable. The abundance of the 1989 herring year class in PWS is significantly reduced; this is the first reported example linking genotoxicity to subsequent population level effects. This review describes the methodology for the anaphase aberra tion test using fish eggs, its applications for large-scale assessment s and supportive laboratory studies, and its limitations for predictio n of higher level effects on populations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B, V. All rights reserved.