Comparative induction of liver EROD and BaPMO activities in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) by benzo[a]pyrene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: a laboratory study

The objective of the present study was to assess and compare the sensitivity of EROD and BaPMO enzymatic activities as biomarkers of exposure to increasing doses of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and polychlorinated 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-para-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in Anguilla anguilla. Eels collected from a Mediterranean brackish environment were experimentally exposed to chemicals by intraperitoneal injection and sacrificed seven days later. Both EROD and BaPMO activities showed close dose-response relationships to chemicals, even, if the Presence of a plateau in EROD induction at concentrations above 10 mg/kg B[a]P is suggested. Higher induction occurred for EROD than for BaPMO activity in almost all the groups of exposure. Both EROD and BaPMO activities in A. anguilla appear to be suitable biomarkers to PAHs and PCDDs exposure and a higher sensitivity is suggested for EROD induction as biomarker of exposure to such chemicals.