Bioaccumulation of Mutagens and Promutagens in Fish Taken From Four Sites in Northeast Tennessee

The purpose of this study was to identify the accumulation of mutagens and/or promutagens in fish using the Ames Sal monella/mammalian microsome assay. The fish were taken from four different collection sites in Northeast Tennessee areat Watauga Lake, Boone Lake, the Nolichucky River, and the HoIston River. A gross autopsy was performed on each fish; this autopsy consisted of recording weight, length, age, sex, and the physical condition of the various fish organs. Each fish (whole body) was extracted using ultra-pure 2-propanol as the solvent. Extracts were then screened for mutagenicity using bacterial Salmonel la typhimurium tester strains TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA102. Two fish extracts showed mutagenicity (i.e., mutagenicity ratio of \u3e 2.5) - one from Boone Lake and, the other from the Nolichucky River. These two sample extracts were retested at several doses. Results indicated that only the fish sample from the Nolichucky River displayed a dose response when using either strains TA97 or strain TA98 with microsomal activation