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(T/EH028) The application of a "multi-trial biomarker approach" in caged bioindicators for the ecotoxicological assessment of an AGIP Oil Plant: the BIOAGRI project. Ferraro, M.1, Fossi, M.C.2, Casini, S.3, Marsili, L.3, Leonzio, C.3, Neri, G.3, Ancora, S.3, Mori, G.3, 1 2 3 ABSTRACT- The BIOAGRI pilot project (the first project on this subject at European scale) was born in order to develop and validate a new method for the evaluation of ecotoxicological risk, based on biomarkers in bioindicators organisms, of an AGIP oil plant in the industrial complex at Val d'Agri (Basilicata, Italy). The research is in three phases: 1- laboratory and semi-natural studies; 2- field studies; 3- development and implementation of method. Here we present the preliminary results of the semi-natural studies. Two "cage" studies were performed to validate the most sensitive suite of biomarkers found in a preliminary lab phase. 400 male specimens of Cyprinus carpio were placed in cages in 5 different sites along the Agri River and the stream Casale and 25 rats (Rattus rattus) were placed in cages in 5 different sites inside the Oil plant area for 14 and 28 days. The toxicological impact of the plant on freshwater ecosystems (carps experiment) and related to the air emission (rats experiment) was evaluated by a "multi-trial biomarker approach". Several biochemical, molecular, metabolic and cytological biomarkers were investigated (Erod, BPMO, AChE, BChE, vitellogenin, porphyrins, PAH metabolites in bile, micronuclei) in order to identify the most sensitive suite of biomarkers for evaluation of ecotoxicological risk connected with the oil plant. EROD and BPMO activities were found to be highly induced after 28 days of exposure in the carps caged in front of the emission of the sewage treatment plant, respect to the controls. PAH metabolites in bile and EROD activity appear higher in the site E (Casale stream) with respect to control site. EROD activity was found to be highly induced after 14 days of exposure in the rats caged in the sites C (water treatment area), D (oil treatment area), E (sulfur extraction area) with respect to controls. ACHE activity was found to be highly inhibited after 14 days of exposure in the rats caged in all experimental sites and particularly in the site C (water treatment site) with respect to controls. The results show, for the first time, the validity of a "multi-trial biomarker approach" in caged bioindicators in the ecotoxicological assessment of oil plant activities. Key words: Biomarkers |
