Environmental quality of mussel farms in the Vigo estuary: pollution by PAHs, origin and effects on reproduction.
This work analyzes the influence of environmental and physiological parameters on PAHs accumulation in cultured mussels. Lipid content and reproductive stage are directly related with PAHs accumulation pattern. We observed a rapid accumulation and depuration of PAHs, mainly during periods of nutrients accumulation, spawns and gonadic restorations. Correlations between PAHs accumulation and physiological status indicate when mussels are more susceptible to adverse effects of these pollutants. A positive correlation between mutagenic congener's accumulation and occurrence of gonadic neoplastic disorders is shown for the first time in mussels. Molecular indices were used to identify the origin of hydrocarbons accumulated by Mytilus, showing a chronic pyrolytic pollution and pollutant episodes by petrogenic sources and biomass combustion in the studied area. Multivariate analysis suggests the possibility of including physiological parameters of sentinel organisms in environmental biomonitoring programs, mainly in aquaculture areas, taking into account their two aspects: farms productivity and human food safety.
Ruiz
Y
Y
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Inmunology, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: yruiz@uvigo.es.
Suarez
P
P
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Inmunology, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: psuarez@uvigo.es.
Alonso
A
A
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Inmunology, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: amam@uvigo.es.
Longo
E
E
Department of Functional Biology and Health Sciences, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: elongo@uvigo.es.
Villaverde
A
A
Department of Statistic and Operational Research, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: carlosvt@uvigo.es.
San Juan
F
F
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Inmunology, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: fsanjuan@uvigo.es.
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects; D049878:Mytilus / Q000187:drug effects*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons