Biochemical biomarker responses to pollution in selected sentinel organisms across the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea

Catherine Tsangaris, Vanessa Moschino, Evangelia Strogyloudi, Valentina Coatu, Andreja Ramšak, Rana Abu Alhaija, Susana Carvalho, Serena Felline, Alisa Kosyan, Yiota Lazarou, Ioannis Hatzianestis, Andra Oros, Daniela Tiganus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pollution effects were assessed by means of biochemical biomarkers (catalase, glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities, and metallothioneins content) in five species at selected coastal sites across the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, a well-established sentinel species, was investigated in the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, and Black Sea. The mussel Brachidontes pharaonis and the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus were used in the Levantine Sea where M. galloprovincialis is not present. The white seabream Diplodus sargus sargus and the gastropod Rapana venosa were additionally sampled in the Adriatic and the Black Sea, respectively. Mussels showed catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and acetylcholinesterase responses to pollution in most geographical areas while the response of metallothioneins was restricted to a few sites. R. venosa showed marked responses of catalase and metallothioneins whereas both fish species did not generally exhibit variations in biomarker values among sites. The approach based on the reference deviation concept using the “Integrated Biological Responses version 2” index was useful for the interpretation of overall biomarker responses.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1789-1804
Number of pages16
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 23 2015

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