title: Assessment of biological effects of environmental pollution along the NW Mediterranean Sea using red mullets as sentinel organisms.
abstract: A biomonitoring program was carried out in spring and autumn in three pollution hot-spots and sensitive areas of the NW Mediterranean Sea using red mullets (Mullus barbatus) as sentinel organisms and a battery of biomarkers together with gonad histology. In fish from anthropogenic impacted areas (Fos-sur-mer, Cortiou, Arenzano, Delta of Ebro) lysosomal membrane destabilization occurred indicating disturbed health. There were no significant differences in metallothionein (MT) levels among stations. Peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX) activity was highest in fish from Cortiou. Both MT levels and AOX activities were significantly correlated with gamete development. Prevalence of melanomacrophage centers were high in Cortiou in all samplings and in Fos-sur-mer in September samplings. In conclusion, the application of a battery of biomarkers in red mullets provided relevant data for the assessment of environmental pollution in the NW Mediterranean Sea but also showed the difficulties of using native fish as sentinels. For future studies caging strategies are recommended.
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: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Zarragoitia
authors.forename: Itxaso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Apraiz
authors.forename: Ibon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cancio
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orbea
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: D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000473:pathology; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D010473:Perciformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000473:pathology; D012621:Seasons; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008668:Metallothionein; D042962:Acyl-CoA Oxidase