Detection of genotoxic substances in bivalve molluscs from the Saguenay Fjord (Canada), using the SOS chromotest.

Few studies have employed bioassays to investigate the accumulation of genotoxins in aquatic biota that inhabit areas contaminated with industrial and municipal wastes. This study employed the SOS Chromotest, a short-term bacterial genotoxicity assay, to investigate the presence of genotoxins in bivalve molluscs from the Saguenay Fjord (Canada). Genotoxicity analyses were performed on dichloromethane extracts of Mya arenaria and Mytilus edulis collected downstream from several aluminum refineries and forestry products industries known to produce and release genotoxic substances. The results confirmed that bivalve molluscs inhabiting downstream regions are contaminated with both direct-acting and pro-genotoxic substances. In several cases, SOS response induction factors exceeded 3.0. The results failed to reveal a clear downstream trend of decreasing genotoxicity with increasing distance from the presumed industrial sources(s). A significant relationship (r2 = 0.61, p < 0.007) between a demographic variable (population near shoreline) and lipid-corrected genotoxic potency suggest that the accumulated direct-acting genotoxins may be of municipal origin. Significant relationships between tissue extract genotoxicity (r2 = 0.75, p < 0.003) and tissue PAH contamination (r2 = 0.77, p < 0.0001) and drainage basin area suggests that the bivalves are accumulating airborne contaminants deposited on the surface of the relevant drainage basins. In spite of contamination with genotoxic PAHs, the addition of rat liver microsomal enzymes reduced the genotoxic potency of all samples investigated (31-94% decrease). The results also revealed a significant relationship between tissue extract genotoxicity and PAH concentration (r2 = 0.72, p < 0.0005). Further analyses confirmed that a variable portion (7-97%) of the S9-activated tissue extract genotoxicity can be attributed to the detected PAHs. Although the sources, identity and effects of genotoxins accumulated by bivalves of the Saguenay Fjord remain to be determined, the study has confirmed the utility of the SOS Chromotest in environmental monitoring of aquatic biota.