title: Integrated use of biomarkers in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis for assessing off-shore gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea: results of a two-year biomonitoring program.
abstract: Despite a large number of gas platforms existing in the Adriatic Sea, which is a semi-enclosed basin characterized by a slow turnover rate and increasing industrial as well as other anthropogenic activities, the effects of these structures on the aquatic ecosystem require further investigation. Since 1998, multidisciplinary studies have been performed by CNR-ISMAR to comply with legislation and to support the development of protocols for the monitoring of offshore activities in the Adriatic Sea. The present study was developed to implement a biomonitoring plan to assess the ecotoxicological effects of the extraction activities of an off-shore gas platform. Biomarkers were evaluated in mussels collected from the platform in relation to physiological stress, DNA damage, cellular damage, oxidative stress and exposure effects. Organic contaminants and trace element bioaccumulation were also assessed in the soft body of the mussels to correlate bioaccumulation of pollutants with biomarker responses. The results indicate an absence of platform-related environmental stress.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council-ISMAR, Castello 1364/A, 30122 Venice, Italy. alessio.gomiero@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomiero
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Da Ros
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nasci
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meneghetti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001579:Benzopyrene Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D059206:Natural Gas; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D059206:Natural Gas; D008668:Metallothionein; D002374:Catalase; D001579:Benzopyrene Hydroxylase