Integrated biomarker response in Mytilus chilensis exposed to untreated urban discharges along the coast of Ushuaia Bay (Beagle Channel, Argentina)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 28; no. 29; pp. 39892 - 39906
• Main Authors: Diodato, Soledad, Comoglio, Laura, Camilion, Carolina, Amin, Oscar, Marcovecchio, Jorge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Ammonia; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; Catalase; Coastal waters; Digestive glands; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental changes; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental quality; Environmental science; Exposure; Glutathione; Glutathione transferase; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Mantle; Mollusks; Mussels; Mytilus chilensis; Organisms; Oxidative stress; Oxygen consumption; Peroxidation; Physiology; Research Article; Sewage; Sewage effluents; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Oxidative stress; Mussels; Biomarkers; IBR; In situ bioassays; Early responses; Patagonia; Municipal wastewater
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13587-1

The short-term effects of coastal untreated effluents from Ushuaia Bay, Beagle Channel, on the biochemical and physiological biomarkers of Mytilus chilensis were assessed. An integrated biomarker response (IBR) index was calculated as a helpful tool to represent the general stress of the experimental organisms. Cultured mussels were exposed during 96 h to three coastal sites impacted by sewage effluents. At the beginning (T 0 ) and every 24 h, mussels were subsampled from each site and different biochemical and physiological biomarkers were determined. There was no mortality registered in the experiments during the 96 h. However, biochemical and physiological biomarkers presented significant variations. Lipid peroxidation mean levels in mussels decreased in mantle and increased in digestive gland with respect to T 0 in almost all cases. Acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited in all sites, reaching a maximal decrease of 35% with respect to T 0 . Catalase remained stable and glutathione-S-transferase was activated. Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates increased in organisms from two sites and, consequently, O:N ratio decreased, denoting a symptom of stress. IBR values showed the existence of different stress levels between exposed and unexposed mussels. These results exhibited an alteration of the general metabolism of mussels exposed for a short period of time to untreated coastal wastewater, suggesting the use of these organisms as early indicators of changes in the environmental quality of coastal waters of Ushuaia Bay.