Metallothionein and metal levels in flounder Platichthys flesus from four f:eid sites and n flounder dosed with water-borne copper

Abstract

Concentrations of metallothionein (MT) and of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, cadmium and lead were measured at the GEEP Workshop in liver and kidney of flounder Platichthys flesus from 4 sites in Langesundfjord, Norway, subject to a pollution gradient, and from 4 mesocosm basins dosed with varying levels of copper and dlesel oil. Little difference was found between MT levels in samples from the 3 polluted field sites, though ldney MT levels were significantly higher than at the field reference site. Tissue zinc levels were highest in the most heavily polluted fjord site but there was no correlation between hepatic MT and total hepatic zinc. Copper in the mesocosm basins was not accumulated in the flounder livers, nor was liver or ludney MT elevated by the treatment.