Monitoring a Marine Coastal Area: Use of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus as Bioindicators

Abstract

Samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus were collected in eight coastal sites along the South Adriatic and Ionic coasts of Italy in spring 2000 for a survey of coastal pollution in the Mediterranean basin. Specimens were analysed using an integrated approach based on residue analysis of common aquatic pollutants like organochlorines such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), DDTs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and nonylphenols (NPnE) and biomarker responses such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and the two specific P450 activities benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase (BPMO) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD). Biological and morphological parameters like somatic liver index (SLI), gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonadal and gamete histology (eggs and sperms) were also evaluated in red mullet samples. A contamination gradient in which several hot spots occur were revealed in this study. The hot spots account for high levels of organochlorines in both species near incinerators and of PAHs in harbour areas. Levels of both NPnE and AChE activity were highest in two protected marine areas and were within detectable limits in others. This finding was confirmed by P450 activities, in which maximum levels were detected in harbours and protected marine areas. No morphological alterations of male and female gonads were observed on the histological level. ProblemAquatic ecosystems serve as a sink for pollutants, which bind to sediment and tend to accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms. Marine coastal areas are extremely impacted by human activities, thus better reflecting the health of the overall marine eco-P.S

Difference of mercury bioaccumulation in red mullets from the north-western Mediterranean and Black seas

“…Variability in Hg concentration in the three red mullets studied was high, as also observed for M. b. barbatus in the Adriatic Sea (Corsi et al, 2002). Data were particularly scattered within large size classes and high trophic levels.…”

“…= data not available. Present study Capelli et al 2004Corsi et al 2002Storelli et al 2005Storelli et al 2005Kucuksezgin et al 2002Gonul and Kucuksezgin 2007Keskin et al 2007 Present study Present study Capelli et al 2004El-Sharnouby et al 1986 Figures Fig …”

“…In M. b. barbatus, δ 15 N, size and age covaried suggesting that a combination of the three parameters caused the observed Hg accumulation. A positive relationship between Hg and fish size is also observed in M. b. barbatus from Italian (Corsi et al, 2002) and Turkish waters (Gonul and Kucuksezgin, 2007).…”

“…However, they failed to reach a clear conclusion and suggested that more data were needed to resolve these issues. Since, new results have been obtained from coastal (Barghigiani and De Ranieri, 1992;Corsi et al, 2002;Gonul and Kucuksezgin, 2007;Keskin et al, 2007) and deep water (Storelli et al, 2002;Cossa and Coquery, 2005) Mediterranean fishes. However, most studies provide Hg concentration in fish muscle without any explanation on the mechanisms involved, and fail to explain geographic differences.…”

Biological activity resulting from exposure to aquatic environmental genotoxic pollutants in northern Egypt

“…Pollution of the aquatic environment is one of the worst legacies of development of the 20th century [1] and marine coastal areas are particularly impacted by human activities [2]. Aquatic ecosystems serve as a sink for pollutants, which bind to sediment and tend to accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms [3]. The concentrations of these compounds in the fresh tissues of aquatic organisms are several orders of magnitude higher than those found in the environment.…”