Esterase activities in the bivalve mollusc Adamussium colbecki as a biomarker for pollution monitoring in the Antarctic marine environment

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 445 - 455
• Main Authors: Bonacci, Stefano, Browne, Mark A., Dissanayake, Awantha, Hagger, Josephine A., Corsi, Ilaria, Focardi, Silvano, Galloway, Tamara S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adamussium colbecki; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Antarctic Regions; Antarctica; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay - methods; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Bivalvia; Carboxylesterases (CbEs); Cholinesterases (ChEs); Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Esterases - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Mollusca - enzymology; Risk Assessment; Terra Nova Bay; Water Pollutants, Chemical - adverse effects; Canada; Antarctica; Newfoundland; North America; America; Antarctic Regions; Antarctica, Ross Dependency, Terra Nova Bay; PS, Antarctica, Ross Dependency, Terra Nova Bay; Biomarkers; Carboxylesterases (CbEs); Terra Nova Bay; Cholinesterases (ChEs); Adamussium colbecki; Antarctica; Enzyme; Biological marker; Esterases; Carboxylesterase; Cholinesterase; Biological monitoring; Carboxylic ester hydrolases; Marine environment; Bivalvia; Hydrolases; Water pollution; Bay; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.02.033

Marine environments are continuously being threatened by a large number of xenobiotics from anthropogenic sources. Even in sparsely populated and relatively pristine areas, such as Antarctica, hazardous chemicals can pose a serious environmental problem. The main aims of the present study were to (1) validate and optimize an analytical technique utilizing a microtitre-plate photometer to ascertain background levels of esterase activities in the Antarctic bivalve Adamussium colbecki, (2) carry out in situ monitoring of esterase activities to assess any potential environmental impacts of the Italian Scientific Antarctic Base “Terra Nova Bay” on the surrounding marine area. Results showed the presence of organophosphorous-sensitive cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities in the gills of A. colbecki and optimal assay conditions were comparable with those found for bivalve species from temperate areas. A higher sensitivity of ChE versus acetylthiocholine activity in A. colbecki to chlorpyrifos compared to species from temperate areas may also be inferred. The in situ study indicated no differences in the environmental quality of the three study sites located around the Italian Base.