Suitability of carboxylated porphyrin profiles as a biochemical indicator in whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) exposed to bleached kraft pulp mill effluent

Abstract The hepatic carboxylated porphyrin profile was studied in whitefish exposed to bleached kraft pulp mill effluent (BKME). The distribution of the porphyrins was different between the samples from the BKME and the reference site, and fish exposed to BKME contained higher amounts of highly carboxylated porphyrins (HOP). The ratios of HCP to protoporphyrin, and coproporphyrin to protoporphyrin, were also significantly different between the two groups. In addition, the cytochrome P‐450 activity, liversomatic index, and gonadosomatic index were measured and compared with the prophyrin profile. The results suggest that BKME could inhibit porphyrinogen decarboxylases, and the porphyrin profile is useful as a biochemical indicator for identification of BKME exposure. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. .