New Biomarkers

Abstract

Large volumes of produced water are released into the North Sea and there is still some uncertainty as to the environmental impacts. Following the BECPELAG workshop in 2001-2002, water column monitoring near selected platforms has been performed using a combination of chemical and biological effects methods. The aim of the present study was to investigate some new candidate biomarker methods. At the two chosen exposure levels, 4300- and 137000-fold diluted produced water, PAH concentrations in exposed blue mussels were similar to those found following deployment offshore. PAH bile metabolites in cod were not significantly increased. There was a clear response in micronucleus formation in mussel haemocytes. Other methods that could become useful for monitoring in the future included mixed xenobiotic defence (MXR) components in cod red blood cells, peroxisomal effects in mussel and cellular energy allocation in mussel. No exposure-related effects were seen for glutathione S-transferase in either species or MXR in blue mussel haemocytes.