Bream

Bioindicator in rivers and lakes

The bream is a species of fish which lends itself particularly well as a specimen type for the Environmental Specimen Bank on the grounds of its numbers, widespread presence and substantial biomass availability.

Muscle and liver are used as a specimen. Sampling takes place in the late summer after the spawning season.

For more information about the specimen, the sampling and the processing of samples see the Guideline for Sampling and Sample Processing Bream (Abramis brama).

Recommended analysis examples

• beta-HCH in bream from the river Mulde
• Octachlorostyrene in bream from the Upper Elbe
• Zinc in livers of bream from the Donau

Target organs/Matrices

• Musculature

  The musculature or muscles are the eatable part of the fish and therefore are directly linked to the human food chain.

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• Liver

  The liver is the main reloading point of the substances within the body. Thus the liver is suitable for surveying eco-toxicological relevant components.

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• Blood plasma

  As a liquid component of the blood, blood plasma is responsible for the transport of numerous components, such as fats, hormones and proteins. In terms of quantity, it makes up the largest part of the blood.

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Sampling area

Analytes

• Metals

  Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals

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• Nonmetals

  Only eighteen elements in the periodic table

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• Organometallic compounds

  Organic substances with at least one metall atom

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• Chlorohydrocarbons

  Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom

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• DDT and metabolites

  Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide

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• Hexachlorocyclohexane

  Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons

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• Biocides and plant protection products

  Chemical agents against harmful organisms and for plant protection

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• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds

  Organic compounds which are fully (per-) or partially (poly-) fluorinated

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• Polycyclic musks

  Class of synthetic fragrances

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• Alkylphenol compounds

  Class of non-ionic surfactants and their degradation products

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• Stable Isotopes

  Atoms of one element with different weights

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• Flame Retardants

  Flame retardants reduce the flammability of objects

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• UV-Filter and antioxidants

  Proctection for humans and products

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• Siloxanes

  Cyclic methylsiloxanes with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties in the environment

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• Supplementary parameters

  Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data

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• Pharmaceuticals

   

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Sampling period

Biometric parameters

• Weight

   

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• Age

   

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• Gesamtlänge

   

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Extended information

Links to external information and legislation

• EUNIS biodiversity database - Abramis brama (external)
• Die Umweltprobenbank - Zeitreisen für den Umweltschutz. Umweltbundesamt - YouTube (external)
• Fische aus Mulde und Elbe kaum noch mit Lindan und seinen Nebenprodukten belastet (external)
• Brassen – die Trendmacher: Schadstoffmonitoring mit Fischen in der Umweltprobenbank (external)

Literature

• Wirkungsuntersuchungen beim Brassen
  Quack, Markus; Klein, Roland
  Trier: Universität Trier, Fachbereich VI – Biogeographie, 2003. - 77, 2003
  
• Retrospektives Monitoring von Triclosan und Methyltriclosan in Brassenmuskulaturproben der Umweltprobenbank (German)
  Böhmer, Walter; Bernhardt, Thorsten; Rüdel, Heinz; Müller, Martin; Wenzel, Andrea
  Fraunhofer-Institut für Molekularbiologie und Angewandte Oekologie, 2005
  
• Retrospective Monitoring of Alkylphenols and Alkylphenol Monoethoxylates in Aquatic Biota from 1985 to 2001: Results from the German Environmental Specimen Bank
  Wenzel, Andrea; Böhmer, Wolfgang; Müller, Josef; Rüdel, Heinz; Schröter-Kermani, Christa
  Environmental Science & Technology 38 (2004), 6, 1654 - 1661, 2004
  
• Verfolgung von Umweltbelastungen durch Moschusverbindungen in repräsentativen Umweltproben  - Teil I
  
  Böhmer, Walter; Müller, Josef; Bernhardt, Thorsten
  Schmallenberg, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, 2005
  
• Verfolgung von Umweltbelastungen durch Moschusverbindungen in repräsentativen Umweltproben - Teil II
  Wenzel, Andrea; Lepper, Peter
  Schmallenberg, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, 2005
  
• Retrospective monitoring of synthetic musk compounds in aquatic biota from German rivers and coastal areas
  Rüdel, Heinz; Böhmer, Walter; Schröter- Kermani, Christa
  J. Environ. Monit. 8 (2006), 812-823, 2006
  
• Is there a linkage between bioaccumulation and effects of alkylphenols on male breams (Abramis brama)?
  Klein, Roland; Bartel, Martina, He, Xiaohua; Müller, Josef; Quack, Markus
  Environmental Research 98 (2005), 1, 55-63, 2005
  To Publication
• Use of sex ratio of bream (Abramis brama L.) as an indicator of endocrine effects: Results from the German Environmental Specimen Bank
  Teubner, Diana; Tarricone, Kathrin; Veith, Michael; Wagner, Gerhard; Bartel-Steinbach, Martina; Klein, Roland; Körner, Andrea; Quack, Markus; Paulus, Martin
  Ecological Indicators 11 (2011), 5, 1487-1489, 2011
  
• Mercury levels and trends (1993-2009) in bream (Abramis brama L.) and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from German surface waters
  Lepom, Peter; Irmer, Ulrich; Wellmitz, Jörg
  Chemosphere 86 (2012), 2, 202-211, 2012
  
• Benzotriazole UV stabilizers in sediments, suspended particulate matter and fish of German rivers: New insights into occurrence, time trends and persistency
  Wick, Arne; Jacobs, Björn; Kunkel, Uwe; Peter Heininger, Peter; Ternes, Thomas A.
  Environmental Pollution 212 (2016), 401–412; available online 11 February 2016, 2016
  
• Phenol-Benzotriazole in Proben der Umweltprobenbank - Screening und Zeitreihen
  Wick, Arne; Jacobs, Björn; Ternes, Thomas A.
  Koblenz: Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde, 2016.  - 61, 2016