title: Responses of B-esterase enzymes in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) transplanted to pesticide contaminated bays form the Ebro Delta (NE, Spain).
abstract: Marine bivalves such as oysters are widely used as bioindicators to monitor marine coastal pollution. This study aimed to use B-esterase activity responses in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) cultured in Ebro Delta bays to monitor environmental effects of pesticides. The B esterases investigated were acetylcholinesterase, propionylcholinesterase, and carboxylesterase and their activities were measured in adductor muscle and gills from oysters transplanted in Ebro Delta bays where the are traditionally grown. Enzyme activities were related with physico-chemical parameters and pesticide levels measured in water. Cholinesterase activities measured in gills were unaffected across sites and periods. Conversely, carboxylesterase activities in oyster gills varied across periods and sites and were negatively correlated with residue levels of organophoshporous and carbamate pesticides in water. Therefore, inhibition of carboxylesterase activities can be considered a good indicator of exposure to anti-cholinergic pesticides in oysters.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Innovation in Toxicology, Technical University of Catalonia Campus Terrassa Zona IPCT Ctra, Nac.150, km 15, 08227 Terrassa, Spain. ochoa@crit.upc.edu
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barata
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D043182:Carboxylesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C025181:propionylcholinesterase; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases