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(W/MF166) Can the health status of a marine coastal area be defined without a multimarkers approach? Lionetto, M.G.1, Corsi, I.1, Caricato, R.1, Mariottini, M.1, Menchi, V.1, Sensini, C.1, Giordano, M.E.1, Pascariello, M.F.1, Marinosci, L.1, Solazzo, F.1, 1 ABSTRACT- This work is a preliminary study in biomonitoring chemical contamination in a coastal marine environment (Salento peninsula, Apulian, Italy) using a multimarker approach associated to chemical analysis in a bioindicator organism, Mytilus galloprovincialis. The aim is to investigate two areas, one institutionally recognized naturalistic area (P.to Selvaggio) and the other antropogenically impacted (Gallipoli), being an harbour interested by fishery activities and small local traffic. Generic stress indexes like Catalase, an antioxidant enzyme sensitive to oxidative stress induced by organic and inorganic contaminants, and specific ones like Metallothionein (MT) induced by heavy metals, Benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase (BPMO) by Polycyclyc aromatic hydrocarbons and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), inhibited by organophosphates and carbamates insecticides were applied. Residues of organochlorines like hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'DDE and polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1260) were measured in organism tissues. PAH and heavy metals (Hg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) and 4-nonylphenol were also investigated on the same organism. In the naturalistic area the generic stress index catalase was significatively higher in accordance with two specific stress responses: the lower activity of AChE and the induction of BPMO in agreement with the highest levels of PAH in the organism. The levels of organochlorines were higher also in that area and in particular PCB and the endocrine disruptor 4-NP were significatively higher compared with those measured in mussel from the harbour. Otherwise, MT levels in average were low and did not show significant differences between the two areas in agreement with residues analysis of heavy metals. The results suggested that an integrated approach of chemical analysis and biomarker responses represent a potential tool for better understanding the ecological risk in environment studies. Therefore, the choice of a "control site" in biomonitoring programs cannot be done "a priori" without a preliminary investigation using such an integrated approach, that strongly remarked the importance to choose real control-naturalistic areas in biomonitoring programs. Key words: biomarker, contamination, heavy metals, gonadal histology |
