Toxische Wirkung von Schadstoffen auf Fischzellen. Bestimmung von DNA-Strangbrüchen mit dem Comet-Assay

The alkaline comet assay is a method of detecting DNA strand breaks and alkali labile sites in individual cells. The method was used to detect DNA strand breaks in isolated blood cells (leukocytes) of carp (Cyprius carpio). DNA damage have been induced by exposure of the cells to sediment extract. Therefore comet assay can be applied as in vitro bioassay for investigations on toxicity of marine sediments.

PCB desorption kinetics under realistic shear and turbulence [progress report]

We hypothesize that the impact of PCB desorption from resuspended sediments depends upon the intensity of the resuspension (which scales to bottom stress in the absence of organisms), the rate at which each congener desorbs (which depends on the size and hydrophobicity of the chemical, the relative amount of 'labile' and 'resistant' forms, and the size distribution of the suspended particles), and the residence time of the particles in the water column (which depends on the time-variable water column turbulence regime and the particle settling velocities). In order to accurately quantify the impact of PCB desorption from Hudson River sediments, we are conducting experiments that realistically mimic bottom shear stress and water column turbulence and rapidly measure PCB congener release. The objectives of this study are to measure the kinetics of PCB congener desorption from Hudson River sediments under realistic bottom shear and water column turbulence conditions and to quantify the impact of shear stress and contaminant aging on PCB desorption kinetics.

Speciation of some trace metals (Fe, Cu, and Cd) in El-Mex Bay waters, Alexandria, Egypt

Surface- and bottom-water samples were collected from October 1996 to August 1997 to study levels of iron, copper, and cadmium species in their dissolved labile as well as non-labile and particulate forms in the waters of El-Mex Bay. The results showed that the non-labile concentration of the metals was generally more abundant than that of the labile form: its content reached more than 90% of the total dissolved metal for Cu and more than 80% for Fe. The particulate form was almost at the level of the labile form. The annual concentration of the trace metals of the labile form was 13 µglˉ¹ for Fe; 3µglˉ¹ for Cu, and 1.2 µglˉ¹ for Cd in the surface- and bottom-waters.