Metal accumulation and binding protein induction in Mytilus galloprovincialis, Scapharca inaequivalvis, and Tapes philippinarum from the Lagoon of Venice

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 476 - 484
• Main Authors: IRATO, P, SANTOVITO, G, CASSINI, A, PICCINNI, E, ALBERGONI, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2003; Berlin Springer Nature B.V; New York, NY
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia; Cadmium; Carrier Proteins - analysis; Chromium; Cobalt; Detoxification; Digestive glands; Digestive System - chemistry; Digestive System - metabolism; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental science; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gills; Gills - chemistry; Gills - metabolism; Glutathione - analysis; Heavy metals; Italy; Laboratories; Lagoons; Manganese; Marine; Metal concentrations; Metallothionein - analysis; Metallothioneins; Metals; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Mollusca; Mollusca - metabolism; Mollusks; Mytilus edulis; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Nickel; Pollution; Proteins; Scapharca inaequivalvis; Sediments; Species Specificity; Studies; Tapes philippinarum; Tissue Distribution; Venice Italy; Italy; Europe; Italy, Venezia, Chioggia; MED, Italy, Veneto, Venezia, Veneta Lagoon; Japan; Brackish water environment; Gill; Induction; Toxicity; Interspecific comparison; Biological marker; Exposure; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Coastal lagoon; Heavy metal; Binding protein; Bivalvia; Water pollution; Digestive gland; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Biological accumulation; Metallothionein; Glutathione
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-002-1262-8

Heavy metal pollution is known to be widespread in the sediments of the Lagoon of Venice. Therefore, physiological parameters influenced by this form of contamination were examined. The bivalve molluscs blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), ark clam (Scapharca inaequivalvis), and Japanese littleneck (Tapes philippinarum) were sampled in two sites (Marghera, Chioggia) every 3 months for 1 year. The digestive gland and gills of each bivalve were analyzed. The concentrations of essential and nonessential metals (including chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium) were determined. Because glutathione and metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification, their concentrations were evaluated in relation to metal concentrations. Results show that (1) all three studied species accumulate metals to a considerable extent, with some species-specific differences between the digestive gland and gills; (2) gills are a good tissue to evaluate pollution by examining the MT content. In particular, the correlation between Zn and MT levels in the gills indicates that M. galloprovincialis and S. inaequivalvis are sentinel organisms and can be used specifically for Zn pollution; (3) T. philippinarum accumulates Cu in the digestive gland more readily than the other two bivalves and therefore has the highest MT.