title: Assessment of biological effects of environmental pollution along the NW Mediterranean Sea using mussels as sentinel organisms.
abstract: With the aim of assessing the biological effects of pollution along three gradients of pollution in the NW Mediterranean Sea, a biomonitoring survey was implemented using a battery of biomarkers (lysosomal membrane stability, lysosomal structural changes, metallothionein (MT) induction and peroxisome proliferation) in mussels over a period of two years as part of the EU-funded BEEP project. Mussels from the most impacted zones (Fos, Genova and Barcelona harbours) showed enlarged lysosomes accompanied by reduced labilisation period of lysosomal membranes, indicating disturbed health. MT levels did not reveal significant differences between stations and were significantly correlated with gonad index, suggesting that they were influenced by gamete development. Peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX) activity was significantly inhibited in polluted stations possibly due to interactions among mixtures of pollutants. In conclusion, the application of a battery of effect and exposure biomarkers provided relevant data for the assessment of biological effects of environmental pollution along the NW Mediterranean Sea.
authors.affiliation: Biologia Zelularra eta Histologia Laborategia, Zoologia eta Biologia Zelularra Saila, Zientzia eta Teknologia Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea/Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zorita
authors.forename: Itxaso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Apraiz
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Zarragoitia
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orbea
authors.forename: Ibon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cancio
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Ionan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marigómez
authors.forename: Miren P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cajaraville
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005718:Gametogenesis; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D012758:Shellfish
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein