Scale of classification based on biochemical markers in mussels: application to pollution monitoring in Mediterranean coasts and temporal trends

Abstract

A battery of biochemical parameters was used to evaluate the response of mussels to a contaminated coastal environment. A multimarker approach was developed, establishing a scale for the classification of the water quality in European coastal sites (BIOMAR European programme). This study allows the evaluation of the temporal trends of this scale when applied to selected sites of European Mediterranean coast (BEEP Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems: European programme). Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) is highly sensitive to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides and, to some extent, also to heavy metals. Catalase activity (CAT) and lipid oxidation (evaluated as malonedialdehyde) are markers of oxidative stress, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity is related to conjugation of organic compounds and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity (BPH) is a marker of effect of certain planar organic compounds (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs). These parameters were measured either in gills (AChE, GST) or digestive gland (BPH, GST, CAT, MDA). For each biomarker, a discriminatory factor was calculated (maximum variation range/confidence interval) and a response index was allocated. For each site, a Multimarker Pollution Index (MPI) was calculated as the sum of the response index of each of the five more discriminating biomarkers. As the result of our calculation method, the quality of the coastal environment at each site can be classified according to a five levels scale. Samples collected for five cruises in May 2001, 2002, 2003, and September 2001 and 2002 showed MPI evolutions. The results show that water quality can be classified from class 1 (clean areas in some sites of France, Italy and Spain) to class 4 (high pollution in main harbours). Results of the use of the biomarker scale in WP3 (Work Package Concernant Biomonitoring Programmes in Mediterranean Sea) during the BEEP programme make a strong contribution to the establishment of standardized strategies and methods for internationally agreed protocols for biomarker-based monitoring programmes. In comparison with scale pollution methodology used in the BIOMAR programme, the main contribution of BEEP was (1) to select from discriminatory analysis the biomarkers to be included in calculation of scale pollution; (2) to improve the use of the biomarker index in order to identify the main contaminants by analysis of individual contributions to the MPI; and (3) to apply methodology for temporal trends at sampled sites.

Measurements of biomarker levels in flounder (Platichthys flesus) and blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) from the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic)

“…No differences between sampling sites or any clear temporal seasonal trends for GST activity in mussels were observed from the western Mediterranean Sea by Porte et al (2001), neither were they found in a lake and rivers in the Tucholski Landscape Park (central Poland) by Petushok et al (2002). Seasonal changes in CAT activity in mussels have been reported by Solé et al (1995), Regoli (1998), Narbonne et al (1999) and Leiniö and Lehtonen (2005), all showing a higher CAT activity in spring compared to autumn, similar to this study. Bresler et al (1999) observed no differences in GST activity levels of mussels measured from ''clean'' and polluted stations in the German part of the North Sea.…”

Indices for the assessment of environmental pollution of the Baltic Sea coasts: Integrated assessment of a multi-biomarker approach

“…Means to assess pollution stress in marine organisms by combining selected biomarkers of exposure and effects have been under recent development (Adams et al, 1993;Narbonne et al, 1999;Beliaeff and Burgeot, 2002;Chèvre et al, 2003a,b;Broeg et al, 2005;Sturve et al, 2005). Environmental deterioration and recovery are processes (Depledge, 1999).…”

Biomarkers of pollution effects in the bivalves Mytilus edulis and Macoma balthica collected from the southern coast of Finland (Baltic Sea)

“…The use of integrated biomarker indices is a relatively new approach in the marine ecotoxicological context (Adams et al 1993, Narbonne et al 1999, Beliaeff & Burgeot 2002, Chèvre al. 2003a,b, Broeg & Lehtonen 2006.…”