A toxicological assessment of water pollution and its relationship to aquaculture development in Algeciras Bay, Cadiz, Spain (original) (raw)
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Bioaccumulation and biological effects of pollution were assessed in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) caged for one month at three sites in the Oiartzun estuary (south-eastern Bay of Biscay, Spain) with the aim of evaluating their usefulness within the investigative monitoring defined in the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD). The highest concentrations of organic contaminants determined in mussels' tissue were detected towards the inner part of the estuary but no gradient pattern was found for metal bioaccumulation. Population fitness responses measured as condition index, stress on stress and gonad index were similar in all caged mussels and did not follow the organic pollution gradient. However, biomarkers determined at tissue, cell and protein level (histopathology, micronuclei frequency, malondialdehyde levels and vitellogenin-like protein levels) revealed a higher stress syndrome at the inner part of the estuary showing signs of genotoxicity, oxidative stress and endocrine disruption. Overall, the integrated chemical-biological approach in connection with mussel caging technique proved to be a useful tool to assess environmental pollution, allowing a better understanding of the cause-effect relationship within the investigative monitoring defined in the WFD.
Marine Organisms in Toxicological Approach for the Assessment of Environmental Risk
Three marine organisms, Mugil cephalus, Penaeus monodon and Perna viridis were exposed to cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in 24-hrs static renewal acute toxicity test in the present study. Subsequently safe concentration and the ambient concentrations in the Ennore were estimated. The calculated 96-hour LC 50 values showed the sensitivity of mullet juveniles to metals are in the order of Cu>Cd>Pb>Zn. Juveniles of P.viridis were highly susceptible to copper; 96 h LC 50 value was very low and was tolerant to zinc. The order of sensitivity was Cu>Cd>Pb>Zn. Post larval stages of P.monodon exposed to heavy metals in acute toxicity test revealed vulnerability towards lead and tolerant to zinc. The order of sensitivity was Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn. Ambient concentrations in Ennore creek showed that the values were above the safe concentrations derived and the coastal standards. The heavy metal concentrations would have posed a great threat for the sustainability of juveniles in the Ennore estuary. Hence, there is an urgent need to implement stringent rules to prevent pollution of creek, so that the juveniles may grow, reproduce, and thrive in their waters contributing a sustainable ecosystem for the future.
Environmental impacts of intensive aquaculture in marine waters
Water Research, 2000
ÐThe eects of marine aquaculture on the environment were evaluated by studying the water quality of San Pedro river, a canal located within the Bay of Ca diz (SW of Spain). Marine aquaculture, both extensive and intensive, is one of the most important activities carried out in this area. Several facilities are located on this river, the most important being devoted to the intensive culture of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata). The characterization of the water consisted of the evaluation of the variation of several parameters along the river and during dierent seasons. These parameters were pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids and nutrients (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate). With a water quality criteria based on local laws, a signi®cant but not dangerous pollution was observed in the area, with ammonium and suspended solids being the most signi®cant pollutants.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2003
In the present work, both seawater and limpets (Patella vulgata L.) were collected from different sampling points in the Vigo estuary area (Galicia, NW Spain) and their heavy metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) were determined by means of a voltammetric technique. The results showed a direct relationship between the heavy metal levels in seawater and the content in biological samples, especially those obtained from limpet soft tissues, directly related to the increasing importance of anthropogenic environmental contamination. Heavy metal concentrations were usually higher in soft tissues than in shell, with a maximum difference corresponding to Cd and Zn (average of 93.6 and 86 folds, respectively). As expected, heavy metal content was higher in animal samples situated in inner part of the estuary zone, except for cadmium content in soft tissues, where a maximum of 5.62 ppm was quantified in limpet soft tissues collected next to the open sea area. Statistical analysis allowed the establishment of a clear relationship
2018
El fitoplancton, como base de las redes troficas marinas, es la principal fuente de energia para los bivalvos filtradores, entre otros. En el Pais Vasco, el reciente interes en el cultivo de bivalvos en aguas costeras llevo a la instalacion de una planta piloto frente a la costa de Mendexa (Bizkaia). En este contexto, surge la necesidad de estudiar y conocer la dinamica y composicion de la comunidad fitoplanctonica en la costa vasca, dada su implicacion en el crecimiento de bivalvos. Para ello, se han utilizado dos fuentes de informacion. Por una parte, se ha analizado una serie temporal de mas de diez anos a lo largo de toda la costa vasca; y, por otra parte, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio especifico en la planta piloto. En general, en terminos de disponibilidad alimentaria para los mejillones, se han encontrado atributos fitoplanctonicos favorables para el crecimiento de mejillones, como son la presencia de blooms, la contribucion de las diferentes fracciones de tamano de celula ...
Environment International, 2009
This study consisted of the sediment toxicity assessment of the Bay of Cádiz based on two endpoints: growth inhibition for Cylindrotheca closterium (benthic microalgae) and fecundity inhibition for Tisbe battagliai (harpacticoid copepod). A new methodology to eliminate (but not as storage technique) the autochthonous biota present in the sediment samples by immersing them in liquid nitrogen (− 196°C) was also assessed. Sediment toxicity data showed different toxicity levels for both organisms. In general, T. battagliai was more sensitive; however a good correlation (r = 0.75; p b 0.05) between sediment toxicity results for both species was found. Data in pore water (pH, redox potential, and toxicity for microalgae and copepod) and sediment (pH, redox potential, organic carbon, and metal concentrations) demonstrated that ultra-freezing did not alter sample characteristics; thus, this technique can be adopted as a pre-treatment in whole-sediment toxicity tests in order to avoid misleading results due to presence of autochthonous biota. Multivariate statistical analysis such as cluster and principal component analysis using chemical and ecotoxicological data were employed. Silt and organic matter percentage and lead concentration were found to be the factors that explain about 77% of sediment toxicity in the Bay of Cádiz. Assay methodology determined in this study for both assayed species is considered adequate to be used in sediment toxicity monitoring programs. Results obtained using both species show that the Bay of Cádiz can be considered a moderately polluted zone.
Environment international, 2004
Comparisons were made of metal concentrations in water and sediment with those in the muscle and livers of three species of fish caught in four seawater reservoirs (two in the Odiel estuary and two in the Bay of Cádiz). The concentrations of a large number of metals in the water, sediment and fish were higher in the Odiel reservoirs than in those in Cádiz. We found high metal-enrichment factors in the livers as compared to muscle (over 100 for Fe and Cu and around 5 for Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb). The three fish species showed differences in metal content. For example, eels accumulated more metals in muscle and grey mullet in the liver. The metal levels found in muscle in the three species were below the legal limits for human consumption, although Cu in the liver was above the limit in the three species taken from the Odiel reservoirs, and Zn levels in liver were over the maximum in eels from one of the Odiel marshes. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were obtained for the levels of numerous metals in water, sediment and fish.