ABSTRACT
The biochemical stress responses of fish to pollutants were compared to those elicited by physical stressors. The hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal axis of fish appears to be particularly sensitive to low concentrations of certain pollutants. The total glutathione content of striped mullet tissues was determined enzymatically by a modification of the method of Owens and Belcher which permits measurement in small tissue samples. Two techniques were used to assay ascorbic acid in striped mullet, and Atlantic croaker tissues. In September 1981 when sandworms were also collected from Deer Island, Mass., the glycogen content of animals from this site was 50% of the concentration in the animals from the reference site in Maine, a highly significant difference. An increased incidence of fin erosion in winter flounder has also been reported for animals collected in the New York Bight Apex and the Sandy Hook-Raritan Bay areas, both of which are impacted by domestic and industrial pollution.
