title: Assessment of pollution level using Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator species: The case of the Gulf of Trieste.
abstract: A multidisciplinary approach was used to estimate the pollution level of the marine environment in the North Eastern Adriatic by measurement of the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen (δ(13)C, δ(15)N), metal/metalloids analyses (Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb, including As speciation) in the Mytilus galloprovincialis, as well by using metallothioneins (MT) concentrations, micronuclei (MN) in gill cells and biological parameters (condition index and gonadosomatic index). Concentrations of MT were in the range from 44 to 175 μg g(-1) wet matter tissue and were higher at the end of the winter season. The frequency of MN did not indicate an elevated level. Sewage sludge pollution was not confirmed. Elevated As concentrations in mussel are related to salinity and low nutrients concentrations and not to pollution. Elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb were found in the Bay of Koper in comparison with the Bays of Strunjan and Piran.
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: urska.kristan@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Urška
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kristan
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: tjasa.kanduc@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Tjaša
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanduč
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: andrej.osterc@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osterc
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: zdenka.slejkovec@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Šlejkovec
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Piran, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia. Electronic address: andreja.ramsak@nib.si.
authors.forename: Andreja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramšak
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: vekoslava.stibilj@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Vekoslava
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stibilj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D058955:Metalloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D017524:Slovenia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: As speciation; Biomarkers; Gulf of Trieste; Metals; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Stable isotopes