Effects of pollution on chub in the River Elbe, Czech Republic T. Randak a,Ã , V. Zlabek a,b , J. Pulkrabova c , J. Kolarova a , H. Kroupova a , Z. Siroka d , J. Velisek a , Z. Svobodova a,d , J. Hajslova c a Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology Vodnany, University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 398 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic b Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, LMV, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden c Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, Department of Food Chemistry and Analysis, Technicka 3, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic d University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic article info Article history: Received 25 April 2008 Received in revised form 22 September 2008 Accepted 23 September 2008 Keywords: Leuciscus cephalus Intersex Biomarker EROD Vitellogenin 11-Ketotestosterone Mercury POPs Alkylphenols abstract The Elbe River is one of the most polluted aquatic ecosystems in the Czech Republic. The effect of three major chemical plants located on the Elbe River (at Pardubice, Neratovice, and Usti nad Labem) on fish was studied in 2004. Health status, chemical concentrations (Hg, PCB, DDT, HCH, HCB, OCS, 4-tert- nonylphenols, 4-tert-octylphenol) in muscle, and biomarkers (hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), plasma vitellogenin, and plasma 11-ketotestosterone) were assessed in male chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.). Differences between localities upstream (US) and downstream (DS) from the monitored source of pollution were identified. Fish from DS sampling sites showed significantly higher levels of contaminants than fish from US sampling sites. Generally, the concentrations of pollutants in fish from the Elbe sites were significantly higher compared to the reference site. Reduced gonad size, decreased plasma levels of 11-ketotestosterone, EROD and vitellogenin induction, and histopathologies of male gonads indicated harmful effects of aquatic pollution in fish from the Czech portion of the Elbe River. & 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The Elbe River, part of an important European aquatic ecosystem, is one of the most polluted aquatic ecosystems in the Czech Republic. It is 1103.5km long with a catchment area of 148 268 km 2 , and flows through the Czech Republic (51336 km 2 ) and Germany (96 932 km 2 ). Heavy metals and persistent organic compounds are the major contaminants monitored in the aquatic environment, both in biotic and abiotic compartments, in recent years. Mercury (Hg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlor- odiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), a-, b-, and g-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), octachlorostyrene (OCS) were pointed out as the most important pollutants of the Elbe River (Rudis, 2000; Hilscherova et al., 2001; Celechovska et al., 2005; Marsalek et al., 2006; Randak et al., 2006; Hajslova et al., 2007). Various categories of contaminants may cause adverse effects on endocrine systems of aquatic organisms. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are man-made and naturally occurring chemi- cals which can affect the balance of hormone function of organisms, e.g. pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals (PCBs, PAHs, phthalates, styrenes), degradation products of ten- sides (alkylphenols), personal care products, Hg, and others (Keith, 1998; Tyler et al., 1998; Mills et al., 2001). The majority of the above-mentioned pollutants are persistent and/or lipophilic chemicals, which can accumulate in various environmental compartments and also enter the food chain, thus negatively affecting non-aquatic as well as aquatic organisms. Exposure to a number of planar organic contaminants (e.g. PAHs, PCBs) activates induction of the mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system of organisms (Palace et al., 1996; Kirby et al., 1999). The assessment of surface water contamination by various xenobiotics may be performed, not only by ‘classic’ chemical monitoring of selected pollutants, but also through examination for indicators of adverse effects of pollution on organisms. Selected biochemical parameters, so-called biomarkers in an indicator fish, can be used for this purpose (Van der Oost et al., 2003). The use of biomarkers has become widespread and is integral to many monitoring programs. The presence of plasma vitello- genin (VTG) and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) in male fish, gonadoso- matic index (GSI), and hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity are used as biomarkers in the Czech national monitoring program. ARTICLE IN PRESS Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecoenv Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 0147-6513/$ - see front matter & 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.09.020 Ã Corresponding author. Fax: +420 383 382 396. E-mail address: randak@vurh.jcu.cz (T. Randak). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ] (]]]]) ]]]–]]] Please cite this article as: Randak, T., et al., Effects of pollution on chub in the River Elbe, Czech Republic. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. (2008), doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.09.020