title: Monitoring pollution in Tunisian coasts using a scale of classification based on biochemical markers in worms Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor.
abstract: This paper aims to assess the marine environment quality along the Tunisian coasts using a statistical approach based on biomarkers response in the polychaete worms Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor. Worms were collected from six sites: Bizerta Lagoon, Gargour, Nakta, Mahres, Skhira and from Teboulba considered as a reference site. The biomarkers selected in this work were (1) the activities of cytochrome P450-dependent NADPH cytochrome c reductase (NADPH red) as phase I enzyme, (2) glutathione S-transferase as phase II enzyme and (3) the acetylcholinesterase activity as neurotoxicity marker. Oxidative stress was evaluated using catalase activity and malondialdehyde accumulation. For each biomarker, a discriminatory factor was calculated and a response index was allocated. For each site, a multi-marker pollution index was calculated as the sum of the response index of each of the five more discriminating biomarkers. The results show differences between sites compared with the reference samples. The multi-marker approach confirms that worms from Bizerta and Mahress have been submitted to highly polluted environment. Mahress shows the highest multi-marker pollution index, indicating a highly contamination status.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoiry of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Higher Institute of Agronomy, 4042, Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zied
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bouraoui
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banni
authors.forename: Lassad
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chouba
authors.forename: Jihen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.forename: Cristelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clerandeau
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jebali
authors.forename: Jean Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Narbonne
authors.forename: Hamadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boussetta
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014873:Water Pollutants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase