Sublethal effects of PAHs on selected biomarkers of freshwater fish Carassius auratus

Fresh fish Carassius auratus were chosen as experimental animals, the hepatic biochemical responses to medium-term exposure of PAHs were measured as ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione S transferase (GST) to assess sub-lethal effects. Bell-shaped concentration-response curves were obtained of EROD and GST after 15 d exposure. The time-effect relationships of GST activities were found in fish exposed to all the experimental concentrations. However, time-effect relationships for EROD activities were not significant. EROD and GST in Carassius auratus were confirmed as useful biomarkers of exposure to PAHs.