INVESTIGATION OF MUTAGENIC EFFECT OF METALS IN THE PLOMIN BAY SEDIMENTS BY MODIFIED PREINCUBATION AMES ASSAY

ABSTRACT Disposal of the dredged material from the harbour to the sea bottom represents a route through which many contaminants could be transported towards the open sea and enter to the food chain. In this study, five sediment samples were taken from different depths and locations within Plomin bay (Istria Peninsula, Northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia). Water sediment extract were prepared and analysed for chemical and physical properties, and subjected to cytotoxic and mutagenic investigation. We used two strains of Salmonella typhimurium, TA98 (determination of frameshift mutation) and TA100 (detection of base pair substitution) as a test system. Result showed that concentrations of heavy metals measured in extracts represent exchangeable fraction and are 500–1000 times smaller than the content of the same elements in solid mud. Nine elements were determined in extract: V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and Pb. None of sediment sample extracts were cytotoxic or mutagenic for S. typhimurium TA98 nor TA100 in presence/absence of metabolic activation.