Genotoksikologijos laboratorija
Vadovė, dr. MILDA STANKEVIČIŪTĖ
Pagrindinės tyrimų kryptys – aplinkos taršos ir ekologinių pokyčių sukeltų ekotoksinių efektų tyrimai įvairiose jūrinėse ekosistemose. Laboratoriniuose tyrimuose nagrinėjamas įvairių cheminių junginių genotoksinis, citotoksinis ir mutageninis poveikis vandens organizmuose, apibūdinami aplinkos genotoksiškumo ypatumai ir genetinės rizikos laipsnis įvairiose Europos jūrose ir Atlanto vandenyne. Bendradarbiaujama su Vokietijos, Lenkijos, Suomijos, Estijos, Norvegijos ir kitų šalių mokslininkais.
Genotoxicology Laboratory research trend. |
The main research trend is assessment of environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects in aquatic organisms and evaluation genotoxicity risk levels in different European marine ecosystems. The main objectives:
Laboratory is leading the long-time research programme 1.2.5. Investigations of hazardous substances distribution in the ecosystems, regularities and mechanisms of ecotoxic and biological effects under the impact of anthropogenic stress. |
Outline of laboratory achievements |
At first time there were described the regularities of geno-cytotoxicity formation in different native fish and molluscs species and their various tissues, evaluated relationships between geno-cytototoxicity responses and pollution by hazardous substances, biological or environmental variables in studies marine ecosystems. At first time the data on environmental genotoxicity in studied marine ecosystems were presented in GIS format and created 4- and 5-grade scales for the genotoxicity risk assessment in marine ecosystems. Increased genotoxicity risk identified during the Nord Stream pipeline and cable St. Petersburg-Kaliningrad construction, implementation of large mine clearance programme in the Baltic Sea, as well as in zones of the chemical munitions dumpsites, extensive navigation, oil and gas extraction fields, nuclear power plants, estuaries of the large European rivers. There was clarified geno-cytotoxicity formation under the influence of increased pollution and in recovery process. In multiple experimental exposures (performed mainly in IRIS, Norway), the micronucleus test and induction of the other nuclear abnormalities were validated being sensitive biomarkers, proved the utility of used tools and provided evidences on genetic risk of various compounds, particularly PAHs, mixtures of alkylphenols and produced water discharged from the offshore oil platforms. Genotoxicology Laboratory of the Nature Research Centre is owner of the largest scientific database in Europe on marine genotoxicity studies, which was used in creating the background ICES OSPAR and HELCOM documents for the development an integrated approach to the monitoring of chemical contaminants and biological effects and assessment criteria for Descriptor 8 of Good Environmental Status under EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The scientific database was used in the EU Parliament in discussion of the Nord Stream project implementation and monitoring of environmental impacts, also Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council “On safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities”, Brussels, 2011/0309/COM. The outcomes of our studies were presented during an official state visit of the Lithuanian President to the Finland and were applied in development second stage of the EU BONUS programme. |
International collaboration, traineeships etc. |
The laboratory collaborative efforts cover scientific institutions practically from the all nine countries around the Baltic Sea and also include Norway, United Kingdom and France. The wide-scale environmental genotoxicity studies in the North Sea and Atlantic (over 60 study sites) and multiple laboratory validation studies were carried out at IRIS (Norway) experimental facilities together with scientific partners from the other European countries. In 2008-2012 there are published 12 joint publications with co-authors from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Germany, Italy in international pre-reviewed journals with impact factor and the other publications with co-authors from Denmark, Latvia, Russia. Traineeships – during the implementation of the BONUS BEAST project we have fulfilled the standard operations for the analysis of micronuclei in marine fish and bivalve molluscs. Following the SOPs, performance is related to dr. Halldora Skarphedinsdottir, Stockholm University and to Jennifer Ipse, vTI Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Germany. On the other hand, our scientists were trained during the Walther Herwig sampling surveys on histopathology and external fish disease biomarker studies. Consultancy on micronuclei test application in integrated monitoring and GES evaluation for the implementing EU WSFD was done for scientists from the other countries. Consultancy of EU and Lithuanian Parliament members, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. The outcomes of our studies were useful for the International Scientific Advisory Board (The Hague) activities in preparation and implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Cooperative Measures to Assess and Increase Awareness of Environmental Effects Related to Waste Originating from Sea-Dumped Chemical Munitions A/RES/65/149. |
Vadovas

Milda Stankevičiūtė
dr.
Laboratorijos vadovė, vyresnioji mokslo darbuotoja