Field validation of a battery of biomarkers to assess sediment quality in Spanish ports.
Two marine invertebrates, the crab Carcinus maenas and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum, were used as bioindicator species to assess contamination when exposed in situ to sediment from different sites from four Spanish ports Cadiz (SW Spain), Huelva (SW Spain), Bilbao (NE Spain) and Pasajes (NE Spain). In an attempt to determine sediments toxicity, a combination of exposure biomarkers was analyzed in both species: metallothionein-like-proteins (MTLPs), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR). In parallel, physical and chemical characterization of the different sediments was performed and biological responses related to the contaminants. Significant induction of MTLPs was observed when organisms were exposed to metal contaminated sediments (port of Huelva), and EROD and GPX activities after exposure to sediments containing organic compounds (port of Bilbao and Pasajes). No significant interspecies differences were observed in biomarker responses except for the GST and GR.
Martín-Díaz
M L
ML
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, Cádiz, Spain. laura.martin@uca.es
Blasco
J
J
Sales
D
D
Delvalls
T A
TA
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D003386:Brachyura / Q000378:metabolism*; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000032:analysis; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000032:analysis; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D013030:Spain; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D008668:Metallothionein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase