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3B - Marine toxicity evaluation: current practice and applications (MOP/167) In Situ Assessment of seawater quality using Mytilus galloprovincialis embryos:Embryotoxicity and PAH Bioaccumulation. Geffard, Olivier1, Budzinski, Hélène 1, 1 LPTC - Université de Bordeaux 1, Talence, France ABSTRACT- Embryos and larvae of marine invertebrates, and those of bivalves in particular, are currently used in marine ecotoxicology, because they are more sensitive than adults and they provide rapid results. Laboratory studies cannot accurately reproduce natural conditions and they may underestimate or overestimate toxicity. In this respect, the embryo-larval bioassay has been recently used in situ to assess the biological quality of marine and brackish waters. We conducted an embryo-larval bioassay in situ at the marina of Arcachon (South West French Atlantic coast) in April 2002, using the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. The percentages of abnormal larvae and the PAH biobioaccumulation by the larvae have been investigated. None significant biological effect has been observed between the port entrance and its inner sector, showing that the biological quality of the seawater is acceptable. However, in parallel, the percentages of abnormal larvae observed in laboratory, with seawater from reference site, were lower than those observed in situ. PAH bioaccumulation by larvae increased from the entrance and center of the marina (500 ng/g) to the inner sector of the port (2200 ng/g). This study confirms mussel embryos being a particularly sensitive tool and its use as organism test for assessing seawater quality. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation in which PAH bioaccumulation by M. galloprovincialis larvae has been followed in situ. Key words: Mytilus galloprovincialis, in situ, Embryotoxicity, Bioaccumulation |
