Biomarker responses at different levels of biological organisation in crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) experimentally exposed to benzo(alpha)pyrene.
The aim of this study was to validate a multi-trial biomarker approach for the evaluation of toxicological risk due to benzo(alpha)pyrene. Carcinus aestuarii, exposed to increasing concentrations of B(alpha)P in the water, was used as the bioindicator organism. A set of biomarkers were tested in order to: identify biological materials for biomarker and residue analysis; determine a group of sensitive techniques for the assessment of PAH contamination; investigate correlation between responses at different levels of biological organisation. The results underlined that BPMO activities in hepatopancreas and gills were a good biomarker of exposure to PAH-type compounds. B esterases activities in hemolymph and porphyrin patterns in excreta could be proposed as a non-destructive approach for evaluating chemical exposure in this species.
Fossi
M C
MC
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Siena, Italy. fossi@unisi.it
Casini
S
S
Savelli
C
C
Corbelli
C
C
Franchi
E
E
Mattei
N
N
Sanchez-Hernandez
J C
JC
Corsi
I
I
Bamber
S
S
Depledge
M H
MH
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003386:Brachyura / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D009153:Mutagens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene