Field validation of a battery of biomarkers to assess sediment quality in Spanish ports

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 151; no. 3; pp. 631 - 640
• Main Authors: Martín-Díaz, M.L., Blasco, J., Sales, D., DelValls, T.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Bivalvia - metabolism; Brachyura - metabolism; Carcinus maenas; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 - analysis; Decapoda; Dredged material; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; environmental assessment; environmental exposure; environmental impact; environmental models; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; field experimentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments; Glutathione Peroxidase - analysis; Glutathione Reductase - analysis; Glutathione Transferase - analysis; harbors; heavy metals; invertebrates; Metallothionein; Metallothionein - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; organic compounds; Oxidative Stress; pollutants; pollution; pollution load; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Ruditapes philippinarum; sediment contamination; sediments; Spain; Techniques; toxicity; Toxicity Tests; validity; Spain; Spain, Pais Vasco, Vizcaya, Bilbao; Spain, Andalucia, Huelva; Spain, Andalucia, Cadiz; Oxidative stress; Carcinus maenas; Ruditapes philippinarum; Dredged material; Metallothionein; Harbor; Detoxification; Brachyura; Biological marker; Sediments; Metalloproteins; Crustacea; Pollution; Bivalvia; Arthropoda; Quality; Dredged materials; Environment; Decapoda; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2007.03.019

Two marine invertebrates, the crab Carcinus maenas and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum, were used as bioindicator species to assess contamination when exposed in situ to sediment from different sites from four Spanish ports Cadiz (SW Spain), Huelva (SW Spain), Bilbao (NE Spain) and Pasajes (NE Spain). In an attempt to determine sediments toxicity, a combination of exposure biomarkers was analyzed in both species: metallothionein-like-proteins (MTLPs), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR). In parallel, physical and chemical characterization of the different sediments was performed and biological responses related to the contaminants. Significant induction of MTLPs was observed when organisms were exposed to metal contaminated sediments (port of Huelva), and EROD and GPX activities after exposure to sediments containing organic compounds (port of Bilbao and Pasajes). No significant interspecies differences were observed in biomarker responses except for the GST and GR. A battery of biomarkers shows exposure to metals and organic compounds.