Toxicity of tributyltin in the marine mollusc Mytilus edulis.
Our previous studies have demonstrated that tributyltin (TBT) is genotoxic to the early life stages of marine mussels and worms. Here, the toxicity of TBT to adult organisms was determined using a suite of biomarkers designed to detect cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects. Exposure of adult mussels, Mytilus edulis, to environmentally realistic concentrations of TBTO for 7 days resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cell viability at concentrations of 0.5 microg/l and above. TBT had no effect on phagocytic activity or antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay). There was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage detected using the comet and micronucleus assays between the controls and 0.5, 1 and 5 microg/l of TBTO (P > 0.0005). Furthermore there was a strong correlation between DNA strand breaks (comet assay) and formation of micronuclei (P = 0.0005; R2 = 61.5%). Possible mechanisms by which TBT could damage DNA either directly or indirectly are discussed including the possibility that TBT is genotoxic due to its ability to disrupt calcium homeostasis.
Hagger
Josephine A
JA
Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK. jhagger@plymouth.ac.uk
Depledge
Michael H
MH
Galloway
Tamara S
TS
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin