Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in the bivalve mollusks <i>Macoma balthica</i> and <i>Mytilus edulis</i> from the Baltic Sea

Abstract

Micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds (NB), fragmented-apoptotic (FA) and bi-nucleated (BN) cells were analysed in gills of bivalve mollusks Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis collected from fi ve study locations in Lithuanian territorial waters of the Baltic Sea. Th e frequency of micronuclei varied from 1.28 to 3.63‰ (MN/1000 cells), of nuclear buds – from 0.50 to 1.49‰, fragmented-apoptotic cells from 0.53 to 1.72‰ and of bi-nucleated cells from 1.51 to 2.23‰. Th e highest level of MN and bi-nucleated cells was determined in mollusks from the off shore Station 65, nuclear buds and fragmented-apoptotic cells from Station 1B located close to the Būtingė oil terminal. A comparatively high frequency of MN was observed in bivalves from the Būtingė oil terminal area – 3.38‰ in Station 1B, 2.85‰ in Station B06 in June and in mollusks from Station N-4 (2.66‰) located nearby the oil platform D-6.