Biochemical and genetic indices of marine pollution in Spanish littoral.

Increased activities of several detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes were detected in mollusc and fish from Spanish littoral areas with high metal contents. Ethanolic extracts from molluscs contained direct-acting and polar genotoxins of oxidative type, which were detected by strain TA102 of S. typhimurium and catalase-deficient strains of E. coli. Animals from contaminated sites contained less genotoxins than those from control areas. Polluted fishes displayed highly induced cytochrome P-450 activity and increased promutagen activation capabilities. In addition, specific forms of glutathione transferase and superoxide dismutase were induced, particularly highly acidic forms.