title: Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) as a sentinel species: a field study integrating chemical and biological analyses.
abstract: The gastropod Littorina littorea (common periwinkle) is an abundant and widespread North Atlantic species. The characteristic development of Intersex in L. littorea has been widely applied as a biomarker for tributyltin (TBT) contamination. Here, we assess the potential of L. littorea as a novel sentinel species for evaluating the sublethal effects in wild populations of widely distributed contaminants. We collected animals from six sites across the South coast of England. Tissue concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organotin compounds (OTCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured and compared with biomarkers of damage to DNA (Comet assay), lysosomal stability (NRR assay), and endocrine disruption (Intersex development). There was a strong correlation between DNA damage and PAH bioaccumulation (n=6, r=0.84, p<0.05), as well as that between Intersex development and OTC pollution (n=6, r=0.91, p<0.05). The relationship between PAH bioaccumulation and DNA strand breaks was nonlinear, highlighting the need to consider the role of adaptive mechanisms in the interpretation of field results. These results illustrate the potential use of periwinkles for monitoring a wide range of priority pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Department, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Calle larga Santa Marta, Dorsoduro 2137, 30121, Venice, Italy. setanoventa@stud.unive.it
authors.forename: Seta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noventa
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pavoni
authors.forename: Tamara S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Galloway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000378:metabolism*; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls