Induction of micronuclei in eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) by heavy metals.

Micronucleus test was performed in situ on eels (Anguilla anguilla) from river sites with different levels of heavy metal pollution (cadmium and mercury). Cadmium content in eel liver but not micronuclei averages in kidney were associated with cadmium content in sediments. Mercury content in liver was not significantly associated with mercury content in sediments. Both cadmium and mercury induced micronuclei expression in eels when injected, the concentration tested being 1.7 mg metal/kg body weight and the micronuclei induction being 2.64 and 2.35 micronuclei per 1000 cells for cadmium and mercury respectively. It was concluded that these heavy metals are genotoxic for European eel, that eel liver metal content is a sensitive indicator for environmental monitoring of cadmium pollution, and that the micronuclei scores in eels are not a sensitive method to detect heavy metals pollution in freshwater ecosytems. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.