title: An integrated study on Gammarus elvirae (Crustacea, Amphipoda): perspectives for toxicology of arsenic-contaminated freshwater.
abstract: The Italian region Latium is characterized by extensive quaternary volcanic systems that contribute greatly to arsenic (As) contamination of freshwater, including drinking water supplies. However, knowledge of the possible toxic effects in these aquatic environments is, despite being highly relevant to public health, still limited. In this paper, we approach this issue using Gammarus elvirae, an amphipod species that inhabits rivers and streams in central Italy, including Latium. We explored the possibility of using G. elvirae in the toxicology of freshwater by addressing the most relevant issues. First, we tested the usefulness of hemocytes from G. elvirae in determining non-specific DNA damage by means of the Comet assay after exposure (24 h and 7 days) to different river water samples in Latium; second, we provided an interpretative overview of the usefulness of hepatopancreatic epithelial cells of G. elvirae as a means of assessing toxicity after long-term exposure to As and other pollutants; third, the LC (50-240 h) value for G. elvirae was estimated for arsenate, which is usually the dominant arsenic species in surface waters. Our study sheds light on G. elvirae at different levels, providing a background for future toxicological research of freshwater.
authors.affiliation: INAIL, Research, Certification, Verification Area, Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), Via Alessandria, 220/E, 00198, Rome, Italy. d.davolos@inail.it.|"Charles Darwin" Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185, Rome, Italy. d.davolos@inail.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davolos
authors.affiliation: "Charles Darwin" Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: "Charles Darwin" Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ronci
authors.affiliation: "Charles Darwin" Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Setini
authors.affiliation: ENEA C.R., Sustainable Management of Agricultural Ecosystems Laboratory, Casaccia, Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iannilli
authors.affiliation: INAIL, Research, Certification, Verification Area, Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), Via Alessandria, 220/E, 00198, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Biancamaria
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pietrangeli
authors.affiliation: "Charles Darwin" Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Matthaeis
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000187:drug effects; D007558:Italy; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenate; Comet assay; Elongation factor 1α; Hemocytes; Hepatopancreas; LC50