Integrated use of biomarkers and bioaccumulation data in Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) for site-specific quality assessment
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Biomarkers
- Vol. 11 (5), 428-448
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13547500600733788
Abstract
One of the useful biological tools for environmental management is the measurement of biomarkers whose changes are related to the exposure to chemicals or environmental stress. Since these responses might vary with different contaminants or depending on the pollutant concentration reached in the organism, the support of bioaccumulation data is needed to prevent false conclusions. In this study, several persistent organic pollutants — 23 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), six dichlorodiphenyltricholroethane (DDT) relatives, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlorpyrifos and its oxidized metabolite — and some herbicides (lindane and the isomers α, β, δ; terbutilazine; alachlor; metolachlor) were measured in the soft tissues of the freshwater mollusc Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) from 25 sampling sites in the Italian portions of the sub-alpine great lakes along with the measure of ethoxyresorufin dealkylation (EROD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The linkage between bioaccumulation and biomarker data allowed us to create site-specific environmental quality indexes towards man-made chemicals. This classification highlighted three different degrees of xenobiotic contamination of the Italian sub-alpine great lakes: a high water quality in Lake Lugano with negligible pollutant levels and no effects on enzyme activities, an homogeneous poor quality for Lakes Garda, Iseo and Como, and the presence of some xenobiotic point-sources in Lake Maggiore, whose ecological status could be jeopardized, also due to the heavy DDT contamination revealed since 1996.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Monitoring pollution in Tunisian coasts: application of a classification scale based on biochemical markersBiomarkers, 2005
- Scale of classification based on biochemical markers in mussels: application to pollution monitoring in Mediterranean coasts and temporal trendsBiomarkers, 2005
- DDT in zebra mussels from Lake Maggiore (N. Italy): level of contamination and endocrine disruptionsAquatic Toxicology, 2004
- Aryl hydrocarbon receptors: diversity and evolution11Invited review for Chemico-Biological Interactions.Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2002
- Biomarkers in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for the assessment and monitoring of water quality of the St Lawrence River (Canada)Aquatic Toxicology, 2000
- Scale of classification based on biochemical markers in mussels: application to pollution monitoring in European coastsBiomarkers, 1999
- Apparent induction of a cytochrome P450 with immunochemical similarities to CYP1A in digestive gland of the common mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis L.) with exposure to 2,2′,3,4,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl and Arochlor 1254Aquatic Toxicology, 1997
- Investigations on the biotransformation capacity of organophosphates in the mollusc Dreissena polymorpha PAquatic Toxicology, 1997
- Freshwater mussel die‐off attributed to anticholinesterase poisoningEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1995
- A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye bindingAnalytical Biochemistry, 1976