A weight of evidence approach for quality assessment of sediments impacted by an oil spill: the role of a set of biomarkers as a line of evidence.
In an attempt to incorporate both line of evidence (LOE) and classical weight of evidence (WOE) approaches for the assessment of sediment quality, a set of biomarkers were analyzed in target tissues of two invertebrate species after 28 days of exposure to sediments impacted by oil (derived from the tanker Prestige (2002)). The integration of biomarkers with sediment contamination, acute toxicity and benthic alteration parameters provides an "early warning" tool which not only indicates the environmental quality of an area, but also constitutes an advisory tool for potential ecological risks. The selected biomarkers provide information about the first biological responses due to the presence of contaminants in the environment providing predictable reports about further effects to the ecosystem. The present study demonstrates that the use of a set of biomarkers as part of a WOE approach designed to assess contaminated sediments contributes added value to the classical LOE and allows characterization of the environmental status of the studied area in a more precise and accurate way.
Morales-Caselles
Carmen
C
Unidad Asociada de Calidad Ambiental y Patología, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, Puerto Real 11510, Cádiz, Spain. carmen.morales@uca.es
Riba
Inmaculada
I
DelValls
T Angel
TA
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects; D010578:Petroleum; D013030:Spain; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
D015415:Biomarkers; D010578:Petroleum