Biomarker responses in flounder Platichthys flesus from the Polish coastal area of the Baltic Sea and applications in biomonitoring.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of enzymatic activities, environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in flounder, Platichthys flesus, from the Polish coastal area of the Baltic Sea. Fish were sampled in different contaminated sites in the Gulf of Gdansk and in a reference area outside the gulf. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S: -transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were studied, as well as the frequency of micronuclei, nuclear buds and fragmented-apoptotic cells.

[Niche characteristics of common microalgae communities in prawn-aquaculture pond in terms of water temperature, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphorus resources].

A 4-factorial (water temperature, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphorus) experiment was designed to study the niche characteristics of four common microalgae communities in prawn-aquaculture pond. The results showed that the niche breadth was the greatest for Cryptomonas erosa in temperature and salinity resources (0.980 and 0.

Persistent organic pollutants in two fish species of Percidae and sediment from the Sulejowski Reservoir in central Poland.

Two predatory fish species, pikeperch and perch, and sediment from the Sulejowski Reservoir in Poland were analyzed for several classes of persistent organic pollutants. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), heptachlor, and DDTs were measured in the fish muscles. In addition, the distribution and profile of PCBs in muscles, livers, and gonads was examined.

Fish products available in Polish market--assessment of the nutritive value and human exposure to dioxins and other contaminants.

Chemical analyses were performed on one hundred and twenty of the most popular varieties of fish products (smoked fish, salted fish, and marinated fish) of the fish market in Poland. The contents of the nutritive substances of fish products (protein, micro- and macronutrients, vitamins A(1), D(3), E, and fatty acids) and the chosen contaminant (toxic metals--mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic; dioxin/furans--PCDDFs; dioxin-like PCB--dl-PCBs; seven congeners of polybrominated diphenyl ethers--PBDEs; organochlorine pesticides--SigmaDDT, HCB, SigmaHCH and marker polychlorinated biphenyls--PCB(7)) levels were determined. It was confirmed that fish products are a good source of digestible proteins, iodine, selenium, and vitamin D(3).

Investigation of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in fish from the southern Baltic Sea during the 2002-2006 period.

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in the southern Baltic herring (Clupea harengus), sprat (Sprattus sprattus), and salmon (Salmo salar) are reported. The significant interspecies and season-specific differences in PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs concentrations were observed. The contribution of dl-PCBs to the total toxicity equivalents (TEQs) ranged between 50% and 70%, dependently on fish species.

Study on the raw fish oil purification from PCDD/F and dl-PCB-industrial tests.

The results of tests for the purification of fish oils with activated carbon for industrial use are presented. The optimum parameters for the process of purification (granulation of the activated carbon, its dosage, the oil temperature, and the duration of mixing the oil with activated carbon) were previously established for the laboratory scale. The optimization of the process consisted of selecting purification parameters that would allow for maximum reduction of the toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) content, while retaining the favorable high fatty acid content [C20:5 n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and C22:6 n-3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)].

PCBs in fish from the southern Baltic Sea: levels, bioaccumulation features, and temporal trends during the period from 1997 to 2006.

Levels of seven marker polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been determined in five species of Baltic fish collected during 1997-2006. Downward time trends in the concentrations of heavier congeners of PCBs in different Baltic fish, with the exception of cod, have been observed between 1997 and 2001. In case of sprat and herring samples, the statistical significance of the time trends of the PCBs: 101, 118, 153, 138 and 180 concentrations has been proved.

[Accumulation and release characteristics of heavy metals in Crassostrea rivalaris under mixed exposure].

With a mixed solution of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As), this paper studied the accumulation and release characteristics of test heavy metals in Crassostrea rivalaris. The results showed that C. rivalaris had a strong ability to accumulate Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, Cr and Hg, being able to indicate the concentration levels of these heavy metals in solution, but a weak ability to accumulate Zn and As.

Organochlorine pesticides in fish from the southern Baltic Sea: levels, bioaccumulation features and temporal trends during the 1995-2006 period.

The levels of HCH isomers, HCB and summation DDTs were determined in five species of Baltic fish collected during 1995-2006. Some downward time trends of HCH isomer, pp'-DDE and pp'-DDD concentrations in Baltic fish were observed; in contrast, HCB and DDT concentrations did not exhibit any obvious trend. Concentrations of summation HCHs expressed on a lipid weight basis were very similar in all species studied.

[Multivariate analysis of planktonic Ostracoda communities during autumn and winter in the Beibu Gulf].

Base on the zooplankton samples collected in two cruises for studying the change tendency of ecological environment in the Beibu Gulf, planktonic Ostracoda communities in autumn and winter in the Beibu Gulf were investigated by multivariate analysis. A total of 11 planktonic Ostracoda species were identified and grouped into three ecotypes, i.e.

Effect of the electrical currents generated by the intestinal smooth muscle layers on pancreatic enzyme activity: an in vitro study.

Gut enzymes in the small intestine are exposed to extremely low electrical currents (ELEC) generated by the smooth muscle. In the present study, the in vitro tests were undertaken to evaluate the effect of these electric currents on the activity of the proteolytic pancreatic digestive enzymes. A simulator generating the typical electrical activity of pig gut was used for these studies.

Field studies of eelpout (Zoarces viviparus L.) from Polish coastal waters (southern Baltic Sea).

The aim of the presented studies was to detect the possible effects of contaminants on the physiological and biochemical parameters of eelpout females from the southern Baltic. Eeelpout was sampled in Polish coastal waters during November 2001, 2002 and 2003. The integrated studies included measurements of selected biomarkers in fish as well as the analysis of female reproductive capacity and fry malformation frequencies in relation to environmental conditions in examined areas.

Helminth communities of European eels Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Vistula Lagoon and Puck Bay, Poland.

Within 2001-2002 a total of 621 eel Anguilla anguilla (L., 1758) (488 from the Vistula Lagoon and 133 from the Puck Bay) were examined. Fifteen parasite taxa were recovered: Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae (Yin et Sproston, 1948), Brachyphallus crenatus (Rudolphi, 1802), Deropristis inflata (Molin, 1859), Diplostomum spp.

[Fisheries biology of Nemipterus bathybius and its optimum catchable size in northern South China Sea].

Based on the investigation data in 1997-1999 and 1964-1965, this paper studied the population structure, stock density distribution and its seasonal variation, growth and mortality, as well as the feeding behaviour of Nemipterus bathybius (Snyber) in northern South China Sea. The results indicated that the body length of the samples was 4.2-21.

[Distribution of nekton stock density and its community structure in Taiwan Strait in summer and autumn].

This research was conducted based on the bottom trawl surveys in Summer and Autumn. An analysis on the stock density and community structure of nekton in Taiwan Straits indicated that the average stock density was 8.50 kg x h(-1) in Summer and 6.

alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) absorption from pig intestine and plasma pharmacokinetics.

To study the absorption, metabolism and kinetics, the AKG (in different concentrations) was administered intravenously, intra-portally, orally and directly into the ileum or duodenum of pigs, chronically fitted with portal and jugular catheters and T-shaped cannula at the duodenum and ileum. Additionally, this study was conducted to determine the influence of low pH, Fe(2+) or/and SO on AKG gut absorption and conversely FeSO(4) and FeSO(4)/AKG on Fe(2+) gut absorption. It is concluded that AKG was significantly better absorbed from the upper small intestine than from the distal sections.

Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity in flounder collected from contaminated and reference sites along the Polish coast.

The aim of the present study was to examine the activity of hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) in flounder, Platichthys flesus, as a potential biomarker of exposure to xenobiotics present in the environment. The fish were collected along known pollution gradients and from areas regarded relatively free of anthropogenic input. GST was measured spectrophotometrically in each sampled specimen of flounder.

[Estimation of growth and mortality parameters of Argyrosomus argentatus in northern South China Sea].

In this paper, Argyrosomus argentatus in northern South China Sea was grouped into the colony in continental shelf of northern South China Sea and that in Beibu Gulf. Based on the trawl survey data during 1960s and 1990s, and by using ELLEFAN technique, the growth and mortality parameters of Argyrosomus argenrtatus in northern South China Sea were estimated. The estimated parameters for Von Bertalanffy growth equation were Linfinity = 382 mm, K = 0.

[Spatial heterogeneity of Trichiurus japonicus and small-scale fish in East China Sea and their spatial relationships].

Based on the investigation at 121 positions in East China Sea in 2001 Autumn, this paper analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) and seven kinds of small-scale fish (Setipinna taty, Collichthys lucidus, Champsodon capensis, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Acropoma japonicum, Benthosema pterotum and Apogon lineatus), and the spatial relationships among them. The results indicated that the semivariogram curve of hairtail was very similar to those of Apogon lineatus, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema and Acropoma japonicum, with highly significant correlations (P < 0.01), and the semivariograms of Setipinna taty and Collichthys lucidus appeared as pure nugget effect.

Biomarkers of contaminant exposure: results of a field study with flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the southern Baltic Sea.

The results of the present study are based on enzyme biomarker measurements in flounder (Platichthys flesus), a flatfish species that is widely distributed in Baltic coastal waters. The fish were collected from known pollution gradients and from reference areas regarded as relatively free of anthropogenic input. Muscular cholinesterases (ChEs), hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST), and hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities were measured in each sampled specimen of flounder.

[Advances in research of biological purification of eutrophic water body].

Eutrophication is a global problem, and the key of its controlling is to manipulate the structure of aquatic ecosystem, to recover the function of natural, healthy and stable aquatic ecosystem, and to improve the biological purification capability of eutrophic water body. Aquatic higher plant and vegetation is the most important primary producer in aquatic ecosystem, because of its large individual, long life cycle, and strong capability of absorbing nutrients. Maintaining and restoring a certain amount of aquatic plant could restrain the growth of phytoplankton, improve the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystem, and stabilize its structure.

Microsatellite DNA polymorphism in intensely enhanced populations of sea trout ( Salmo trutta) in the Southern Baltic.

Sea trout ( Salmo trutta) is an anadromous form of brown trout, a commercially important salmonid species in Europe. Stocking has been used to compensate for the decrease of natural populations and maintenance of fishery and angling catches. Over 1.

Exhalation of malondialdehyde from the smoke of high grade cigarettes and effectiveness of filtering it.

It has been found that malondialdehyde penetrates during smoking through filters and exhales with smoke from cigarettes such as: "Pall Mall", "Winston", "Camel", "Lucky Strike", "Kansas", "Mustang", "Ronson", "Chesterfield", "Rally", "Oscar" and "Marlboro". These cigarettes exhale malondialdehyde in a different way, in free form in the amount from 8.5 to 23.

Penetration of malonic dialdehyde on filtration of tobacco smoke.

It has been found that malonic dialdehyde penetrates through the filters of cigarettes. The filter cigarettes, such as "Club", "F6", "Cabinet", "Semper" and "Kenton" as well as non-filter cigarettes, namely "Salem", "Real" and "Karo" generate malonic dialdehyde during smoking, in amounts ranging from 15.6 to 44.

The optimum condition for malonic dialdehyde liberation from smoked fish and curing smoke condensates.

The aim of this study was to establish the conditions for malonic dialdehyde liberation from smoked fish and curing smoke condensates, as well as to determine its content in smoked fish. The specific absorption peaks of coloured solutions of malonic dialdehyde, from curing smoke condensates, with 2-thiobarbituric acid were determined. The conditions for malonic dialdehyde liberation were established, i.