LAUSR

High levels of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) have been found in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) from Lake Ellasjøen, Bjørnøya (Norwegian Arctic). The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential genotoxic effect of environmental OC exposure in Arctic charr from Ellasjøen compared to Arctic charr from the low-contaminated Lake Laksvatn nearby. Blood was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis and image data analysis to quantify the fraction of total DNA that migrated into the gel (DNA-FTM), as a relative measure of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). GC-MS analysis of muscle samples showed an average 43 times higher concentration of ∑OCs in Arctic charr from Ellasjøen (n = 18) compared with Laksvatn charr (n = 21). Charr from Lake Ellasjøen had a much higher frequency of DSBs, as measured by DNA-FTM, than charr from Lake Laksvatn. Principal Component Analysis and multiple linear regressions show that there was a significant positive relationship between DSBs and levels of OCs in the charr. Additionally, DSBs were less frequent in reproductively mature charr than in immature charr. The results suggest that OCs are genotoxic to Arctic charr. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.