Use of three bivalve species for biomonitoring a polluted estuarine environment

Abstract

Estuaries are marine areas at great contamination risk due to their hydrodynamic features. PAH are wide and ubiquitous contaminants with a high presence in these marine environments. Chemical analysis of sediments can provide information, although it does not give a direct measure of the toxicological effect of such contaminants in the biota. Samples of Venerupis pullastra, Cerastoderma edule, and Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected from two locations in Corcubión estuary (Norhwest of Spain). The level of PAH in sediment and biota, and its possible origin were assessed. A moderate level of contamination was observed with a predominance of PAH of a pyrogenic origin. Genotoxic damage, measured as single-strand DNA breaks with the comet assay, was evaluated in gill tissue and in hemolymph. The values of DNA damage obtained showed a higher sensitivity of clams and cockles to the pollution load level. These differences among species make us suggest the use of some other species coupled with mussels as an optimal tool for biomonitoring estuarine environments.

Effects of pyrene exposure on immune response and oxidative stress in the pearl oyster, Pinctada martensii

“…The toxic effects of PAHs depend not only on the availability of the contaminants but also on such factors such as species, photoinduced potential, metabolism, temperature, salinity, and pH. For example, one previous study Fern andez-Tajes et al [19] showed a higher sensitivity of clams and cockles to pollution load levels. Additionally, results from Pelletier et al [60] indicated that the glochidial larvae of Utterbackia imbecillis are sensitive to photoactivated pyrene at environmentally [29].…”

Source characterisation and mid-term spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in molluscs along the Basque coast (northern Spain)

“…These ratios were usually adopted for PAH in sediments, but they are applicable to different environmental media, [32] such as bivalves (e.g. [4,33]). In all of the expressions, for ease of comparison, PAH ratios have the combustiondominant, thermodynamically less stable isomer in the numerator.…”

Copper sulphate induced metabolic stress and biochemical composition in aquatic snail bellamya bengalensis (l).

“…6 , (2004) under study mentioned major influence of ambient dissolved metal concentration and bioaccumulation in two tropical molluscan species. Fern et al, 7 bio monitored concentration of estuarine environment against bivalve species for assessment of biochemical and metabolic changes in the animals. Gagnaire et al 8 have documented depletion of metabolism while studying in vitro effects of heavy metal cadmium and mercury on Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg).…”