Environmental genotoxicity assessment along the transport routes of chemical munitions leading to the dumping areas in the Baltic Sea

Abstract The frequencies of micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds (NB) and nuclear buds on filament (NBf) were examined in 660 specimens of herring ( Clupea harengus ) collected in 2009–2014 at 65 study stations located mainly along the chemical munition transport routes in the Baltic Sea. The frequency of nuclear abnormalities was strongly increased in herring caught at four stations located close to chemical munition dumping sites, or CWAs — substances (chemical warfare agents) in sediments. Significant increase of MN, NB and NBf was observed in fish caught November 2010–2013 compared to 2009. The most significantly increased genotoxicity responses were recorded in fish caught at stations along CW (chemical weapons) transport routes, close to the Bornholm CW dumping area, in zones with CWAs in sediments and with oil–gas platforms.