Toxicity assessment of urban marine sediments from Western Norway using a battery of stress-activated receptors and cell-based bioassays from fish

• Receptor and cell-based bioassays provided important insights into sediment toxicity. The included nine stress-activated receptors from fish. Chemical analyses of extracts revealed complex contamination profiles. Bioassays can be great importance for future environmental risk assessment. A luciferase reporter gene-based bioassay battery consisting fish, complemented with traditional fish bioassays, were used to assess the toxicity marine samples Byfjorden area around city Bergen (Norway). assays covered a wide range cellular signalling metabolic pathways, representing different molecular initiating events in adverse outcome pathway framework. Cytotoxicity, generation reactive oxygen-species, induction 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity analysed using liver gill cell lines. profiles, especially at innermost stations, which contained array persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals. Sediment these sites more potent activating than other extracts, reflecting their toxicant Importantly, receptor- chemical data assessments urban sediments.