Publications (8) View all
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Article: Tracking Temporal Trend Breaks of Anthropogenic Change in Mussel Watch (MW) Databases.
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ABSTRACT: The potential for structural changes in time trend concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, was examined in Mussel Watch (MW) databases of metal pollution at eighteen coastal stations over a decadal period, from 1992 to 2007. Simultaneously, by using two statistical methods representing both the classical hypothesis-testing and the Bayesian approaches, we found single and multiple trend breaks for Hg (28% of the stations), Cd (17%), and Pb (11%) within trends in connection with anthropogenic and subtle natural environmental changes. Also called change point problems, if not accounted for, these could bias time trend investigations and interpretations. We calculated trend rate differences of 39% and switches up to 1 order of magnitude from classical linear trend assessments. We discuss sampling, analytical, and environmental (both natural and anthropogenic) sources of data set variabilities, showing that, in practice, the overall 16-year analytical performance could be as elevated as the yearly sampling reproducibility. We demonstrate that environmental time trend interpretations benefit from undertaking prior structural change analysis. After decades of MW marine chemical pollution assessments these have proven extremely useful, although the occurrence of trend breaks directly affects the long-term marine environmental monitoring strategies. Our results suggest a broader concept to design monitoring programs in agreement with rapid global anthropogenic and environmental changes.Environmental Science & Technology 10/2012; · 4.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Assessment of the mechanisms of detoxification of chemical compounds and antioxidant enzymes in the digestive gland of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, from Mediterranean coastal sites.
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ABSTRACT: In this study the effects of the main marine pollutants (metals, PAHs, PCBs and DDTs) were assessed in native mussels from the Mediterranean coast of Spain. For this purpose several biomarkers such as benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase (BPH), DT-diaphorase (DTD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidases (GPs), glutathione reductase (GR), metallothionein (MT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in the digestive gland. Results showed increased LPO levels in mussels which accumulated high loads of organic compounds and arsenic in their tissues. BPH levels correlated to the concentrations of organic compounds in mussel tissues, though the range of BPH response was low in relation to the high gradient of accumulation of organic pollutants. Increased BPH levels, concomitant to low DTD and GST activities, were detected in mussels which presented high levels of organic pollutants in their tissues. This suggests that signs of LPO present in these organisms are related to the imbalance between phase I and phase II biotransformation processes. Furthermore, the increased levels of MT and CAT detected in mussels which showed high levels of Cd in their tissues appear to reflect a coordinated response which protects against the toxicity of this metal. The application of these biomarkers in environmental assessment is discussed.Chemosphere 02/2012; 87(11):1235-45. · 3.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Chemical contamination baseline in the Western basin of the Mediterranean Sea based on transplanted mussels.
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ABSTRACT: The MYTILOS project aimed at drawing up a preliminary report on coastal chemical contamination at the scale of the Western Mediterranean (continental coasts of the Balearic Islands, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Maghreb) based on a transplanted mussels methodology validated along the French coasts since 1996 by Ifremer and the Rhône Méditerranée & Corsica water board. MYTILOS is backed up by the INTERREG III B/MEDOC programme, the PNUE/PAM-MEDPOL and Rhône Méditerranée & Corsica water board. Three cruises (2004, 2005, 2006) have taken place to assess the first state of chemical contamination along the Western Mediterranean shores with the same methodology. Approximately 120 days were spent at sea deploying and retrieving 123 mussel bags. The results obtained for all studied contaminants were equivalent to those obtained along the French coast according the RINBIO network. These similarities relate to both the highest measured levels and background levels throughout the 123 stations. The areas of greatest impact were mainly urban and industrial centers and the outlets of major rivers, with a far higher midsea impact on the dilution of organic compounds than on metals. Metal levels measured in midsea zones were found to be similar to those in natural shellfish populations living along the coast. On a global scale we can observe that the contaminants levels in the Mediterranean Sea are in the same range as in other areas worldwide. Overall, the research demonstrates the reliability of this methodology for marine pollution monitoring, especially in the Mediterranean sea.Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 08/2011; 61(2):261-71. · 1.93 Impact Factor -
Article: Micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) as biomarkers of cyto-genotoxic pollution in mediterranean waters.
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ABSTRACT: Environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity along the Spanish Mediterranean coast was investigated through the determination of levels of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (NAs) such as nuclear buds (NB) and binucleated cells (BN) in gills of wild mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, from 17 study sites. The results obtained were studied in relation to the exposure to main pollutants (metals, PAHs, PCBs and DDTs), gill antioxidant enzyme activities and environmental variables (temperature and salinity). The highest MN and NB levels were found in mussels from metal-polluted sites, such as Cartagena (MN: 11.6‰, NB: 4.6‰) and Portman (MN: 8.0‰, NB: 3.5‰), where genotoxicity seemed to be related to the oxidative stress generated by exposure to metals. High frequencies of MN and NB in mussels from Algeciras 1 (MN: 8.6‰, NB: 4‰) and of MN (7.2‰) in mussels from Manilva also indicated genotoxicity, though not attributable to the pollutants analysed. In contrast, MN levels at sites highly polluted by organic contaminants such as Barcelona, Vallcarca, Tarragona and Valencia, were lower than expected (ranging from 3.8 to 5.8‰). On the other hand, evidences of cytotoxicity indicated by the high frequencies of BN found in mussels from Vallcarca, Barcelona, and Cartagena (3.9, 3.4, and 2.3‰, respectively) appeared to be specifically related to the accumulation of organic pollutants. Positive correlations found between MN and NB frequencies, and also between both NAs and water temperature, suggested that they were related genotoxic events, and that this environmental factor is able to influence their levels and has to be taken into account in the application of these biomarkers in field studies.Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 03/2011; 52(6):479-91. · 3.71 Impact Factor -
Article: A large scale survey of trace metal levels in coastal waters of the Western Mediterranean basin using caged mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).
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ABSTRACT: A large scale study of trace metal contamination (Hg, Cd, Pb and Ni) by means of caged mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis was undertaken along the coastal waters of the Western Mediterranean Sea within the context of the MYTILOS project. Individual mussels from an homogeneous population (shell size 50 ± 5 mm) obtained from an aquaculture farm were consecutively caged and deployed at 123 sites located in the Alborán, North-Western, South-Western and Tyrrhenian sub-basins for 12 weeks (April-July) in 2004, 2005 and 2006. After cage recoveries, both the metal content in the whole mussel tissue and the allometric parameters were measured. Statistical analysis of the datasets showed significant differences in concentrations between sub-basins for some metals and mussel condition index (CI). Linear regression models coupled to the CI were revisited for the data adjustment of certain trace metals (Hg, Cd and Ni), and four level categories were statistically derived to facilitate interregional comparison. Seawater masses surrounding coastal areas impacted by run-off from land mineralised coasts and industrial activities displayed the highest concentration ranges (Hg: 0.15-0.31 mg kg(-1) dw; Cd: 1.97-2.11; Ni: 2.18-3.20 and Pb: 3.1-3.8), although the levels obtained in most of the sites fitted within moderate or low categories, and they could be considered as baseline concentrations. However, few sites considered little-influenced by human activities, at present, showed high concentrations of Cd, Ni and Pb, which constitute new areas of concern. Overall, the use of active biomonitoring (ABM) approach allowed to investigate trace metal contamination in order to support policy makers in establishing regional strategies (particularly, with regard to the European Marine Strategy Directive).Journal of Environmental Monitoring 03/2011; 13(5):1495-505. · 1.99 Impact Factor
