Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in the bivalve mollusks Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis from the Baltic Sea

Micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds (NB), fragmented-apoptotic (FA) and bi-nucleated (BN) cells were analysed in gills of bivalve mollusks Macoma balthica and Mytilus edulis collected from five study locations in Lithuanian territorial waters of the Baltic Sea. The frequency of micronuclei varied from 1.28 to 3.63‰ (MN/1000 cells), of nuclear buds - from 0.50 to 1.49‰, fragmented-apoptotic cells from 0.53 to 1.72‰ and of bi-nucleated cells from 1.51 to 2.23‰. The highest level of MN and bi-nucleated cells was determined in mollusks from the off shore Station 65, nuclear buds and fragmented-apoptotic cells from Station 1B located close to the Būting oil terminal. A comparatively high frequency of MN was observed in bivalves from the Būting oil terminal area - 3.38‰ in Station 1B, 2.85‰ in Station B06 in June and in mollusks from Station N-4 (2.66‰) located nearby the oil platform D-6.