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Hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity of lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) as an indicator of organic pollution
Author(s) -
Luxon P. Lynne,
Hodson Peter V.,
Borgmann Uwe
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620060902
Subject(s) - salvelinus , trout , environmental chemistry , hydrocarbon , pollution , fishery , environmental science , ecology , chemistry , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , organic chemistry
Hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was measured in lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) from areas on the Great Lakes and from a small “control” lake in a Provincial Park. The results indicated a geographical distribution of MFO activity in the Great Lakes corresponding to levels of organic chemical contamination. Lake trout from the industrialized area of western Lake Ontario had a 6 to 62‐fold‐higher enzyme activity compared to all other sites. A seasonal variation in mixed‐function oxidase activity occurred in the two‐year study. The AHH activity decreased sharply in the autumn at spawning and increased thereafter. No correlation was found between the sex, age, or size of lake trout and their AHH activities at any location. This field study demonstrated the utility of measuring MFO activity in lake trout for monitoring biologically meaningful levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons in contaminated environments on the Great Lakes.