Occurrence, sources and effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Tunis lagoon, Tunisia: an integrated approach using multi-level biological responses in Ruditapes decussatus

Comparative study of immunological biomarkers in the carpet shell clams (Ruditapes decussatus) from metal-contaminated sites in the South Lagoon of Tunis (Tunisia)

“…These industries pump its sewage into the lagoon. In fact, high levels of PAHs (Mzoughi and Chouba 2011 ; Chalghmi et al 2020 ; Mansour et al 2021 ) and heavy metals—such as mercury, zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and nickel (Chalghmi et al 2016 ; Mansour et al 2020 )—have recently been found in lagoon sediments and clams. Control clams were collected from a coastal location at Louza as reference site (RS) (35°02′00.1″N 11°00′66.3″E), which has been considered a less polluted site in monitoring programmes along the Tunisian coasts (Banni et al 2009 ) (Fig.…”

“…The lagoon is adversely affected by industrial contaminants from the industrial zone, substantial harbour activity and untreated urban sewage from Tunis and its southern suburbs (Jouini et al 2005 ). In fact, high levels of PAHs (Mzoughi and Chouba 2011 ; Chalghmi et al 2020 ; Mansour et al 2021 ) and heavy metals—such as mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) (Chalghmi et al 2016 ; Mansour et al 2020 )—have recently been found in lagoon sediments. The carpet shell clam ( Ruditapes decussatus ), which is widely distributed in European and Mediterranean coastal waters and of great ecological and economic importance (Cravo et al 2012 ), has been broadly used as a biomonitor of seawater pollution in the South Lagoon of Tunis.…”

Análisis de biomarcadores en la almeja Polymesoda caroliniana para la generación de un índice de salud y vulnerabilidad

“…La histopatología se utiliza ampliamente para reconocer los efectos del estrés ambiental en los organismos (Bernet et al, 1999;Boscolo Papo et al, 2014b, 2014aCosta et al, 2013;Cuevas et al, 2015aCuevas et al, , 2015bSıkdokur et al, 2020;Usheva et al, 2006). Se ha utilizado en varios organismos para determinar el estado de salud de los cuerpos acuáticos (Boscolo Papo et al, 2014a;Chalghmi et al, 2020;Costa et al, 2013;Usheva et al, 2006). En moluscos bivalvos, particularmente se ha propuesto el análisis tisular de la glándula digestiva ya que es un órgano por el cual pasan todas las sustancias que filtra el organismo, incluso los agentes contaminantes o tóxico.…”

“…The biological responses of organisms reflect the health status of a particular environment. Recently, some vulnerability indexes analyzed responses based on specific biomarkers (Gauthier et al, 2014;Chalghmi et al, 2020). Vulnerability depends on the levels of exposure and sensitivity of a system to a specific pressure, altogether with the capacity to cope, recover, or adapt to this pressure (Villa and McLeod, 2002;Stein et al, 2014;Carantoña and Hernández, 2017;Ocaña and Pech, 2018).…”

“…Histopathology is widely used to recognize the effects of environmental stress on the organisms (Bernet et al, 1999;Usheva et al, 2006;Costa et al, 2013;Boscolo Papo et al, 2014a;b;Cuevas et al, 2015;Sıkdokur et al, 2020). It has been used in several organisms to determine the health status of aquatic bodies (Usheva et al, 2006;Chalghmi et al, 2020;Costa et al, 2013;Boscolo Papo et al, 2014a). Therefore, in our proposal, sensitivity is the measure of responses (prevalence of histopathological alterations) related to the exposure level.…”