Environment: Peculiar Pigment Cell Neoplasm in Fish

Chromatophoroma in the croaker ( Nibea mitsukurii ) showed a unique geographic distribution. The contribution of environmental chemicals to the cause of chromatophoroma in the feral croaker is considered likely on the basis of the following results in our studies. 1) Chromatophoroma was induced in tank-reared N. mitsukurii by administration of certain kinds of known carcinogens such as 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a)anthra-cene, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and nifurpirinol. 2) Local accumulation of pigment-cell hyperplasia in the catfish ( Protosus anguillaris ) showed similar tendencies to those of chromatophoroma in N. mitsukurii. 3) Removal of contaminated sediment from the harbor and the river appeared to reduce the incidence from 47% in 1973–1983 to about 20% in 1985–1987. 4) Waste water from a factory located at the station where the incidence of the neoplasm was the highest contained mutagenic substances such as chloroacetones and glyoxals [5]. Exposure of catfish to the waste water induced pigment-cell hyperplasia on the skin.