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(330) USE OF BIOMONITORING TO ASSESS LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON MARINE ORGANISMS PRODUCED BY THE HAVEN OILSHIP SINKING IN A LIGURIAN SEA AREA. Viarengo, Aldo1, Fabbri, Rita2, Poggi, Emilia2, Malizia, Marinella2, Bolognesi, Claudia3, Trivero, Paolo4, Gollo, Enrico5, 1 2 3 4 5 ABSTRACT- The importance of biomarkers, utilized as routine in biomonitoring programmes for the evaluation of physiological status of marine organisms, is particularly evident when an environmental accident occurs. On the April 11, 1991, on board of the Cyprian Haven oilship a fire burst occurred causing the discharge of 10 thousands of petroleum and the sinking of 90 thousands with the oilship. Thereafter "Haven" sinking, a monitoring program was carried out (1997-98) to assess possible long-term effects of pollutants spilled out from the oilship in the ligurian sea area. For this aim, mussels and fish were collected in two sites near the sinking area and in a non-polluted area. The physiological status of these organisms has been evaluated through a battery of biomarkers of stress (lysosomal membrane stability, lipid and lipofuscin content, stress on stress, DNA damage, micronuclei) and of exposure (metallothionein content and EROD activity). Moreover, the IPA content in mussel and fish tissues was also analyzed, and Synthetic Aperture Radar data (SAR) along the ligurian coast from 1991 to 1997 were collected. The biological results obtained show that there are significant alterations of physiological parameters in mussels; however the chemical analysis indicate that these effects are not due to hydrocarbon action but probably to a mixture of organic/inorganic pollutants. Thus, the effects of "Haven" sinking minimally contribuite to the ecosystem coastal pollution. These data are also confirmed in fish collected in superficial water but benthic fish still suffer the negative effects of hydrocarbons released from the oilship. The SAR data confirmed that essentially no oil is present at the sea surface in the studied areas although pollution was detected in coastal areas directly related to anthropic activities. The present work was supported by a grant Regione Liguria. Key words: Biomonitoring, Haven, Hydrocarbons, Bioindicators |
