Assessment of environmental stress in Parablennius sanguinolentus (Pallas, 1814) of the Sicilian Ionian coast.
The blenny Parablennius sanguinolentus was selected as a useful bioindicator of environmental pollution. Chemical parameters in water and sediments from three different sampling sites along the Sicilian Ionian coast were determined and metal concentrations in fish muscle were measured. DNA fragmentation and oxidation in erythrocytes and hepatocytes was determined by the Comet assay and HSP70 expression levels were evaluated in the liver. The results show an increased level of chromium in sediments and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in water at one site. The bioaccumulation of metals in muscle tissue shows high concentrations of lead in some samples. A high percentage of DNA damage in blood and liver cells, as well as high hepatic levels of HSP70, were found in all the sites. The results demonstrate the usefulness of an integrated chemical and biological approach for the determination of environmental stress.
Tigano
Concetta
C
Department of Animal Biology M. La Greca, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy. tigaconc@unict.it
Tomasello
Barbara
B
Pulvirenti
Valentina
V
Ferrito
Venera
V
Copat
Chiara
C
Carpinteri
Guido
G
Mollica
Emanuele
E
Sciacca
Salvatore
S
Renis
Marcella
M
D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D012802:Sicily; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010575:Pesticides; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls