title: The impacts of emergent pollutants on Ruditapes philippinarum: biochemical responses to carbon nanoparticles exposure.
abstract: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are one of the most important carbon Nanoparticles (NPs). The production and use of these NPs are increasing rapidly and, therefore, the need to assess their presence in the environment and associated risks has become of prime importance. Recent studies demonstrated the impacts of different NPs on bivalves, a taxonomic group where species tolerance to anthropogenic stressors, such as pollutants, is widely variable. The Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is one of the most commonly used bivalve species in environmental monitoring studies and ecotoxicology tests, however, to our knowledge, no information is available on biochemical alterations on this species due to MWCNTs exposure. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the toxic effects of different MWCNT concentrations (0.01; 0.10 and 1.00mg/L) in R. philippinarum biochemical (energy reserves, metabolic capacity, oxidative status and neurotoxicity) performance, after 28days of exposure. The results obtained revealed that exposure to MWCNTs altered energy-related responses, with higher metabolic capacity and lower glycogen and protein concentrations in clams exposed to these carbon NPs. Moreover, R. philippinarum exposed to MWCNTs showed oxidative stress expressed in higher lipid peroxidation and lower ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione, despite the activation of defence mechanisms in exposed clams. Additionally, neurotoxicity was observed by inhibition of cholinesterases activity in organisms exposed to MWCNTs. The present study provides valuable information regarding how these emerging pollutans could become a potential risk for the environment and living organisms.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Marchi
authors.affiliation: Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, San Piero a Grado (PI), 56122, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pretti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Etelvina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiellini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Amadeu M V M
authors.initials: AMVM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: rosafreitas@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001711:Biotransformation; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Clams; Metabolic capacity; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress