Biological effects of dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea: A multi-biomarker study using caged mussels at the Bornholm main dumping site


Contact
Matthias.Brenner [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

After World War II, thousands of tons of highly toxic chemical warfare agents (CWA) were deposited in the Baltic Sea, the main dumping site locating in the Bornholm Basin. In the present study, Baltic mussels (Mytilus trossulus) were transplanted in the area in cages at two hotspot sites and a reference site at the depths of 35 and 65 m for 2.5 months to study bioaccumulation and biological effects of CWA possibly leaking from the corroding warfare materials. No traces of degradation products of the measured phenylarsenic CWA could be detected in the tissues of mussels. Nevertheless, several biochemical and histochemical biomarkers, geno- and cytotoxicity indicators, and bioenergetic parameters showed significant responses. The Integrated Biomarker Index calculated from the single biomarkers also showed a higher total response at the two hotspot areas compared to the reference site. Although no direct evidence could be obtained confirming the responses being caused specifically by exposure to CWA, the field exposure experiment showed unambiguously that organisms in this sea area are confronting environmental stress affecting negatively their health and this is likely related to chemical contamination, which is possibly connected to the sea-dumped CWA.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
53318
DOI 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105036

Cite as
Lastumäki, A. , Turja, R. , Brenner, M. , Vanninen, P. , Niemikoski, H. , Butrimavičienė, L. , Stankeviciute, M. and Lehtonen, K. K. (2020): Biological effects of dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea: A multi-biomarker study using caged mussels at the Bornholm main dumping site , Marine Environmental Research, 161 (105036) . doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105036


Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A

Funded by
EU Baltic Sea Intereg Project DAIMON


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item