Thellmann Paul, Kuch Bertram, Wurm Karl, Köhler Heinz-R, Triebskorn Rita
Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Animal Physiological Ecology, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, Tübingen, 72076 Germany.
Environ Sci Eur. 2017;29(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12302-017-0108-y. Epub 2017 Mar 6.
The present work investigates the impact of discharges from a storm water sedimentation basin (SSB) receiving runoff from a connected motorway in southern Germany. The study lasted for almost two years and was aimed at assessing the impact of the SSB on the fauna of the Argen River, which is a tributary of Lake Constance. Two sampling sites were examined up- and downstream of the SSB effluent. A combination of different diagnostic methods (fish embryo test with the zebrafish, histopathology, micronucleus test) was applied to investigate health impairment and genotoxic effects in indigenous fish as well as embryotoxic potentials in surface water and sediment samples of the Argen River, respectively, in samples of the SSB effluent. In addition, sediment samples from the Argen River and tissues of indigenous fish were used for chemical analyses of 33 frequently occurring pollutants by means of gas chromatography. Furthermore, the integrity of the macrozoobenthos community and the fish population were examined at both investigated sampling sites.
The chemical analyses revealed a toxic burden with trace substances (originating from traffic and waste water) in fish and sediments from both sampling sites. Fish embryo tests with native sediment and surface water samples resulted in various embryotoxic effects in exposed zebrafish embryos (Fig. 1). In addition, the health condition of the investigated fish species (e.g., severe alterations in the liver and kidney) provided clear evidence of water contamination at both Argen River sites (Fig. 2). At distinct points in time, some parameters (fish development, kidney and liver histopathology) indicated stronger effects at the sampling site downstream of the SSB effluent than at the upstream site.
Our results clearly showed that the SSB cannot be assigned as the main source of pollutants that are released into the investigated Argen River section. Moreover, we showed that there is moderate background pollution with substances originating from waste waters and traffic which still should be taken seriously, particularly with regard to the impairment of fish health at both investigated field sites. Since the Argen is a tributary of Lake Constance, our results call for a management plan to ensure and improve the river's ecological stability.
本研究调查了德国南部一个接收连接高速公路径流的雨水沉淀池（SSB）排放物的影响。该研究持续了近两年，旨在评估SSB对康斯坦茨湖支流阿尔根河动物群的影响。在SSB废水排放的上下游检查了两个采样点。分别应用不同诊断方法的组合（斑马鱼胚胎试验、组织病理学、微核试验）来研究本土鱼类的健康损害和遗传毒性效应，以及阿尔根河地表水和沉积物样本、SSB废水样本中的胚胎毒性潜力。此外，通过气相色谱法对阿尔根河的沉积物样本和本土鱼类组织进行了33种常见污染物的化学分析。此外，在两个调查采样点都检查了大型底栖动物群落和鱼类种群的完整性。
化学分析表明，两个采样点的鱼类和沉积物中存在微量物质（源自交通和废水）的毒性负担。用天然沉积物和地表水样本进行的鱼类胚胎试验在暴露的斑马鱼胚胎中产生了各种胚胎毒性效应（图1）。此外，所研究鱼类物种的健康状况（如肝脏和肾脏的严重改变）清楚地证明了阿尔根河两个采样点都存在水污染（图2）。在不同时间点，一些参数（鱼类发育、肾脏和肝脏组织病理学）表明，SSB废水排放下游的采样点比上游采样点的影响更强。
我们的结果清楚地表明，不能将SSB认定为排放到所调查的阿尔根河段的污染物的主要来源。此外，我们表明，存在源自废水和交通的物质的中度背景污染，这仍然应该受到重视，特别是考虑到两个调查现场的鱼类健康受到损害。由于阿尔根河是康斯坦茨湖的支流，我们的结果要求制定一项管理计划，以确保和改善河流的生态稳定性。
