DNA adducts in hematopoietic tissues and blood of the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) from a creosote-contaminated site in the Elizabeth River, Virginia

Hydrophobic DNA adducts were examined in liver, anterior kidney, spleen, and blood of tumor-prone mummichog (Fundulus heterclitus) from the creosote-contaminated Atlantic Wood (AW) site (Elizabeth River, Virginia). DNA adducts eluted in a diagonal radioactive zone, characteristic of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, in all examined tissues of AW fish. Mummichog demonstrated significantly higher levels of DNA adducts in spleen (394+/-109 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides) than in liver (201+/-77 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides) or anterior kidney (211+/-68 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides; P=0.036). The levels of DNA adducts in the pooled blood (pool of four) were 142 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides. DNA adducts were not detected in the liver, anterior kidney, spleen and blood of fish collected from the reference site (< 2 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides). The high levels of DNA adducts detected in tissues of AW mummichog may be linked to the increased cancer incidence and immunosuppression in this population. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.