title: The impact of gypsum mine water: a case study on morphology and DNA integrity in the freshwater invertebrate, Gammarus balcanicus.
abstract: The aim of our study was to investigate how exposure to heavy metal-rich waters from gypsum mining affects the morphology and levels of primary DNA damage in Gammarus balcanicus. Chemical analysis revealed increased concentrations of metals in water and sediment collected at a site impacted by gypsum mine wastewaters. The specimens also showed elevated total tissue metal levels when compared with the organisms collected at the reference site. The most prominent increase was observed for strontium, followed by iron, nickel, vanadium, aluminium, and manganese. The major pathway of entry for these toxic substances was through the degraded exoskeleton as a consequence of excessive strontium input (unbalanced calcium/strontium ratio) and altered permeability. Disturbed exoskeleton integrity was observed only in individuals collected downstream of the gypsum mine, which was confirmed by electron microscopy. Levels of primary DNA damage were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay in the haemolymph of the specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: ivancica.ternjej@biol.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Ivančica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ternjej
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: zlatko.mihaljevic@biol.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: marija.ivkovic@biol.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivković
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: ana.previsic@biol.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Previšić
authors.affiliation: Central Water Management Laboratory, Hrvatske vode, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: igorstankovic1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanković
authors.affiliation: Central Water Management Laboratory, Hrvatske vode, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: kresimir.maldini@voda.hr.
authors.forename: Krešimir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maldini
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, Ksaverska c. 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: dzeljezi@imi.hr.
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Želježić
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, Ksaverska c. 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: nkopjar@imi.hr.
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopjar
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000032:analysis; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004249:DNA Damage; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D008906:Mining; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D004247:DNA; D008670:Metals; D009153:Mutagens; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Gammarids; Genotoxicity; Morphology; Strontium