Ecotoxicological assessment of several estuarine zones in the south of Primorsky Krai

A complex ecotoxicological assessment of several estuarine zones of the Razdol’naya, Barabashevka, Ryazanovka, and Gladkaya rivers in Amur Bay, and the Artyomovka and Sukhodol rivers in Ussyry Bay was carried out in 2007 and 2008. Bottom sediments in the estuary of the Kievka river were collected in 2009. The content of petroleum hydrocarbons was determined in the water and bottom sediments of riverine and marine sectors of estuaries and the total toxicity of bottom sediments was tested with the use of mysids. Bottom sediments from a small river on Reineke Island, in which the concentrations of primary pollutants corresponded to the background values for the entire Peter the Great Bay, were used as a control. The content of organochlorine pesticides in the muscles and liver of the Redeye Eastern Redfin (Tribolodon brandtii) was determined and molecular biomarkers of oxidative stress in organs of the Redlip Mullet (Liza haematocheila) analyzed. The amount of wastewater and pollutants flowing into Amur Bay and Ussyry Bay with some of the rivers was estimated. The correlation coefficient between the toxicity of bottom sediments and the petroleum hydrocarbons content in them was found. The higher sediment toxicity in the riverine zone, as compared to the marine zone, proves the concept of the “river-sea” biogeochemical barrier.