Assessing pollution in coastal ecosystems: a preliminary survey using the micronucleus test in the mussel Mytilus edulis

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 24 - 29
• Main Authors: Izquierdo, Jorge I, Machado, Gonzalo, Ayllon, Fernando, d’Amico, Veronica L, Bala, Luis O, Vallarino, Eduardo, Elias, Rodolfo, Garcia-Vazquez, Eva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01-05-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Binucleated cells; Bioindicators; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Bivalvia - genetics; Coastal ecosystems; DNA Damage; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Micronucleus; Micronucleus Tests; Mytilus edulis; Pollution surveys; Sensitivity and Specificity; Techniques; Water Pollutants - toxicity; South America; Argentina; Europe; Atlantic Ocean; America; Spain; Argentina, Chubut, Puerto Madryn; Spain, Asturias, Gijon; PSW, Argentina, Chubut, Valdes Peninsula, Puerto Madryn; ANE, Spain, Asturias, Gijon; Argentina, Chubut, Valdes Peninsula, Puerto Madryn; Pollution surveys; Bioindicators; Binucleated cells; Mytilus edulis; Micronucleus; Coastal ecosystems; Micronucleus test; Toxicity; Biological indicator; Spatial variation; Coastal zone; Marine environment; Bivalvia; Ecosystem; Water pollution; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Binucleate cell; Environmental monitoring
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/S0147-6513(02)00041-6

Mussels
Mytilus edulis were sampled at increasing distances from urban effluents in two very different locations, Gijon (northern Spain, Europe, 43°N) and Puerto Madryn (Argentina, South America, 43°S), and from an industry effluent in Puerto Madryn. The micronucleus test was performed on branchial cells. For the three situations, a statistically significant negative association was found between the distance of sampling site from the effluent and the mean number of micronuclei per 1000 cell counts, in a range of distances as short as 300
m. The micronucleus test in Mytilidae, here revealed to be sensitive enough to monitor urban pollution, is proposed for routine surveys of pollution as a bioindicator of choice for coastal ecosystems.