Biological responses of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor (O.F.Müller, 1776) to inorganic mercury exposure: A multimarker approach.

Mercury (Hg) is a global priority pollutant given its relevance in terms of environmental damage and threat to human health. Its ecotoxicity was tested using the benthic keystone species Hediste diversicolor as target species. After 10 days of exposure to different levels of inorganic Hg (10 and 50 μg L), bioaccumulation and a wide range of biological responses were evaluated at different biological levels, including biomarkers of exposure, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, genotoxicity and cytochemistry.

Temporal evolution of the environmental quality of the Vallona Lagoon (Northern Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea).

Guidance Document 25/2010, suggests sediment and biota are the most suitable matrices for the trend monitoring purpose, because they integrate the pollution over time and space. So, from 2005 to 2014, the sediment and biota concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb) were analysed in the Vallona Lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy), widely used for intensive and extensive bivalve farming. The contamination levels in sediment and biota were compared with Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and threshold levels (TL) for human health.

Toxicity evaluation of diethylene glycol and its combined effects with produced waters of off-shore gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea (Italy): bioassays with marine/estuarine species.

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is commonly used to dehydrate natural gas in off-shore extraction plants and to prevent formation of gas hydrates. It may be released into the sea accidentally or in discharged produced waters (PWs). PWs samples from off-shore gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea (Italy) have been used in this study.

Biological effects of diethylene glycol (DEG) and produced waters (PWs) released from offshore activities: a multi-biomarker approach with the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax.

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is largely used during oil and gas exploitation by offshore platforms. The aim of this work was to investigate if this compound induces direct molecular/cellular effects in marine organisms, or indirectly modulate those of produced waters (PWs). Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were exposed to DEG dosed alone or in combination with PWs from an Adriatic platform.

Seasonal variations of exposure biomarkers, oxidative stress responses and cell damage in the clams, Tapes philippinarum, and mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, from Adriatic sea.

This work investigated the natural variability of several biomarkers in Tapes philippinarum and Mytilus galloprovincialis, sampled from Northern Adriatic where these organisms are important sentinel species for future environmental impact assessment. Levels of metallothioneins, peroxisomal enzymes and acetylcholinesterase, showed a significant seasonality and marked differences between clams and mussels. Among antioxidant enzymes, catalase and GST decreased during the warmer period, the latter enzyme activity resulting particularly high in clams.

An ecotoxicological protocol with caged mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, for monitoring the impact of an offshore platform in the Adriatic Sea.

An ecotoxicological protocol with caged mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, was developed to evaluate the potential impact of an offshore gas platform in the central Adriatic Sea. Reference organisms were collected on a seasonal basis from an unpolluted site and transplanted for four weeks in both the sampling area and to the investigated platform. Chemical analyses of trace metals in mussel tissues were integrated with a multi-biomarker approach for the early detection of biological responses at several cellular targets.

Application of biomarkers for assessing the biological impact of dredged materials in the Mediterranean: the relationship between antioxidant responses and susceptibility to oxidative stress in the red mullet (Mullus barbatus).

In the period 1997-2000, approximately 1,800,000 m3 of material dredged from the Port of Leghorn was discharged into a sea dumping site located 14 miles from the coast. The red mullet (Mullus barbatus) was used as a bioindicator species for monitoring the biological impact of these discharges on a geographical and temporal scale. Organisms were sampled over three years (1998-2000) at different stations and several biomarkers, both of exposure and effect, were analyzed.