title: Phytochelatin synthesis in response to Hg uptake in aquatic plants near a chlor-alkali factory.
abstract: The effects of mercury (Hg) released from a chlor-alkali factory in aquatic plants along the Ebro River basin (NE Spain) were analysed considering the phytochelatins (PCn) and their isoforms content in these plants. These compounds were analyzed using HPLC with amperometric detection, and the macrophytes species Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriopyllum spicatum were collected in two sampling campaigns, autumn and spring, respectively. To correlate the PCncontent in macrophytes with the Hg contamination, analysis of total Hg (THg) content in plants and suspended particulate matter, as well as the dissolved-bioavailable fraction of Hg in water measured by the diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) technique were done. The results confirm the presence of PC2-Ala in extracts of C. demersum and PC2-desGly in M. spicatum, and the concentration of these thiol compounds depends clearly on the distance between the hot spot and the downstream sites: the higher the levels are, the closer the hot spot is. Since most of the Hg is hypothesized to be associated with SPM and transported downstream, our results of the DGT suggest that trace amounts of Hg in water can be released as free metal ions yielding a certain accumulation in plants (reaching the ppb level) that are enough for activation of induction of PCs. A few PCs species have been determined, at different seasons, indicating that they can be used as good indicators of the presence of bioavailable Hg in aquatic media throughout the year.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turull
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grmanova
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Àngela
authors.initials: À
authors.lastname: Dago
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: cristina.arino@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ariño
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Díaz-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D054811:Phytochelatins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D054811:Phytochelatins; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Ceratophyllum demersum; Ebro River; Mercury; Myriophyllum spicatum; Phytochelatins