Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress Profile in Brachidontes pharaonis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from the Tunisian Coast: Insight into Its Relevance as Bioindicator of Marine Pollution

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 109; no. 5; pp. 831 - 838
• Main Authors: Telahigue, Khaoula, Antit, Mouna, Rabeh, Imen, Chouba, Lassaad, Kheriji, Souhaila, Cafsi, M’hamed El, Hajji, Tarek, Mhadhbi, Lazhar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-11-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Bioindicators; Biomarkers; Brachidontes pharaonis; Cadmium; Catalase; Chemical contaminants; Copper; Dissolved oxygen; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Glutathione; Glutathione peroxidase; Harbors; Heavy metals; Indicator species; Laboratories; Lead; Lipid peroxidation; Marine pollution; Metallothionein; Metals; Mussels; Nonnative species; Oxidative stress; Peroxidase; Pollution; Pollution index; Salinity; Soil Science & Conservation; Superoxide dismutase; Toxicology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Zinc; Biomarkers; Oxidative stress; Invasive species; Harbor; Metal bioaccumulation
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03593-5

This study aims to verify the relevance of
Brachidontes pharaonis
to assess the ecotoxicological status of polluted sites. For this, the levels of some heavy metals (i.e. Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) and a battery of biomarkers including metallothionein (MT), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were assessed in mussels collected from the harbor of Rades (North), and the harbor of Zarzis (South). Moreover, abiotic parameters including temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen were assessed. Results from the ICP-OES showed that the southern population exhibited a higher metal pollution index with significantly higher Zn, Cu, and Pb concentrations. Moreover, the specimens from Zarzis displayed significantly higher levels of MDA, MT, GSH, GPx, SOD, and CAT reflecting higher levels of oxidative and chemical stress. These results emphasize the potential utility of
B. pharaonis
for the monitoring of heavily impacted sites.