Monitoring Of Metal Pollution Research Articles

Omics technologies and their applications to evaluate metal toxicity in mice M. spretus as a bioindicator

Metals are important components of living organisms since many biological functions critically depend on their interaction with some metal in the cell. However, human activities have increased toxic metal levels in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems affecting living organisms. The impact of metals on cellular metabolism and global homeostasis has been traditionally assessed in free-living organisms by using conventional biomarkers; however, to obtain a global vision of metal toxicity mechanisms and the responses that metals elicit in the organisms, new analytical methodologies are needed. We review the use of omics approaches to assess the response of living organisms under metal stress illustrating the possibilities of different methodologies on the basis of our previous results. Most of this research has been based on free-living mice Mus spretus, a conventional bioindicator used to monitor metal pollution in Doñana National Park (DNP) (SW Spain), which is an important European biological reserve for migrating birds affected by agricultural, mining and industrial activities. The benefits of using omic techniques such as heterologous microarrays, proteomics methodologies (2-DE, iTRAQ®), metallomics, ionomics or metabolomics has been remarked; however, the complexity of these areas requires the integration of omics to achieve a comprehensive assessment of their environmental status. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Environmental and structural proteomics. This work presents new contributions in the study of environmental metal pollution in terrestrial ecosystems using Mus spretus mice as bioindicator in Doñana National Park (SW Spain) and surroundings. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the integration of omics multi-analytical approaches provides a very suitable approach for the study of the biological response and metal interactions in exposed and free-living mice (Mus musculus and Mus spretus, respectively) under metal pollution.

Cadmium assessment on the intertidal water margins from the Óbidos Lagoon (western coast of Portugal)

Event Abstract Back to Event Cadmium assessment on the intertidal water margins from the Óbidos Lagoon (western coast of Portugal) Marcia S. Santos1, Carmen A. Pedro1, Susana M. Ferreira2* and Sílvia C. Gonçalves3* 1 Marine Resources Research Group (GIRM) - School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Portugal 2 CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal 3 IMAR – Marine and Environmental Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Portugal The Óbidos Lagoon is the largest shallow coastal lagoon in Portugal. Like any other brackish water system, it has been potentially exposed to different sources of contamination (e.g. livestock farming, domestic and industrial sewage). Trace metals are persistent elements present in the water and sediments in their elemental and organic/inorganic forms. In fact, Cadmium is extremely pollutant due to its great solubility in water and high toxicity for organisms. Also, it is classified as a priority substance according to the European Union Water Frame directive. In this context, a seasonal environmental monitoring program was implemented in the intertidal water margins of the Óbidos Lagoon to assess the presence of Cadmium. In 2009 and 2010, eight sampling stations (S) distributed on the shores of the Óbidos Lagoon were chosen and water and sediments were seasonally collected. In all samples, cadmium concentrations were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, with Graphite Furnace Technique. Cadmium dissolved in the water samples was only detected during summer months, with the highest values in the Barrosa’s arm (S3: 0.35 mg/l) in 2009, and at the station further downstream (S1: 0.19 mg/l) in 2010. In the suspended fraction of the water samples the trace metal was detectable in all seasons, with the maximum concentration at the Barrosa’s arm (S4: 1.04 mg/l) in the winter of 2010. Cadmium was not detectable in the sediments during the summers and was sporadically present in the autumn and in the winter of 2009. The highest concentration in the sediments was observed at the Barrosa´s arm (S4: 140.78 mg/kg) in the spring of 2010. As a whole, cadmium contamination appears to be mostly focused on the inner areas of the lagoon, at the Barrosa´s arm, but a clear seasonal pattern of variation was not detectable. These results allow a better understanding of the environmental quality of this ecosystem and may assist in the definition of coastal management measures specifically targeted to trace metal contamination and pollution monitoring. Keywords: Cadmium, Environmental contamination, Pollution monitoring, coastal management, water and sediment quality Conference: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2014, Peniche, Portugal, 10 Jul - 11 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT Citation: Santos MS, Pedro CA, Ferreira SM and Gonçalves SC (2014). Cadmium assessment on the intertidal water margins from the Óbidos Lagoon (western coast of Portugal). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2014. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2014.02.00101 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 28 Apr 2014; Published Online: 18 Jul 2014. * Correspondence: Dr. Susana M Ferreira, CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, susana.ferreira@ipleiria.pt Dr. Sílvia C Gonçalves, IMAR – Marine and Environmental Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, scgoncalves@ipleiria.pt Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Marcia S Santos Carmen A Pedro Susana M Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Google Marcia S Santos Carmen A Pedro Susana M Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Google Scholar Marcia S Santos Carmen A Pedro Susana M Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves PubMed Marcia S Santos Carmen A Pedro Susana M Ferreira Sílvia C Gonçalves Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Long-term monitoring of metal pollution in sediments from the estuary of the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River (2005–2010)

This work aims to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of trace metals in sediment samples taken from the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River estuary (Bilbao, Basque Country) over the course of a long-term surveillance monitoring programme from 2005 to 2010. Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) and the geoaccumulation indexes (Igeo) were used to assess the environmental risk posed by metal content in the estuary sediment.Sediment was collected at eight different sites in the estuary every three months over the period of investigation. A total of 14 elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, V and Zn) were selected and the concentration of each was measured in all samples. Additionally, conductivity, pH and the concentration of carbonate, total organic carbon and fulvic and humic acids were also measured in those samples collected in sampling campaigns from March 2006 to October 2008.The concentration of most of the metals systematically decreased over the period of investigation. There are still some points of the estuary (those located in the surroundings of the Gobela and Galindo tributaries), however, where concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are significantly higher than the background values estimated for the area. According to the mean Effects Range Median quotients (mERMqs) calculated for these sites, sediments may still pose a toxicological threat to living organisms. Metal content in inner estuary sediment is low.Specific point sources of metals to the estuary, together with background contamination of diffuse origin, are probably responsible for this situation.

Contaminação por metais traço em mexilhões Perna perna da costa brasileira

Os metais traço apresentam grande toxicidade quando presentes em teores elevados nos organismos humano e animal. No ambiente aquático, alguns elementos formam compostos orgânicos que bioacumulam nos tecidos de organismos vivos. Os moluscos bivalves se destacam, pois possuem grande participação na dinâmica de contaminantes metálicos no ambiente marinho devido à capacidade de concentrá-los em níveis mais elevados que na água. Os mexilhões são moluscos bivalves que constituem bons indicadores de biodisponibilidade de metais, sendo amplamente utilizados como biomonitores em ecossistemas aquáticos. No Brasil, a espécie de mexilhão Perna perna é o mais cultivado devido à importância na alimentação de grande parte da população das regiões costeiras. Portanto, o consumo de mexilhões pode representar um risco à saúde humana quando proveniente de locais contaminados com metais traço, o que reforça a importância de se conhecer os teores desses elementos nos ambientes que fornecem alimento ao Homem. Devido à constante busca pela qualidade ambiental associada à utilização do mexilhão P. perna como biomonitor e como alimento, é importante conhecer o panorama de contaminação do território nacional a fim de auxiliar na prevenção de intoxicação por metais traço pelo consumo desse molusco por grande parte da população brasileira.

Heavy metal pollution monitoring in the northern coast of Hormuz Strait (Persian Gulf): plasma enzyme variations in Periophthalmus waltoni

Coastal waters in the northern part of Hormuz Strait (Persian Gulf) receive large inputs of anthropogenic pollutants. This study was made to determine the effects of heavy metals concentration on plasma enzymes of Periophthalmus waltoni by monitoring marine pollution in this area. Based on this, there was a positive correlation between heavy metal concentrations in sediment and tissue samples, of which Zn and Pb had significant positive correlations (P < 0.05). The plasma enzyme levels were higher in fish from the polluted location, whereas no significant differences were found for alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01), suggesting a change in protein metabolism, rather than a consequence of cell permeability and integrity alterations and could be an adaptive response to metal exposure. On the contrary, plasma enzyme content in the blood showed a tendency positive with heavy metals concentrations in fish samples (P < 0.01). The higher heavy metals tissue content may affect the liver, causing some degree of structural damage. The results of this study indicate that plasma aspartate aminotransferase and LDH activity could be used as a metal contamination biomarker in estuaries.

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) bioindicator of lead and copper pollution in Sicily (Italy)

The aim of this study was to evaluate Pb and Cu accumulation in muscle and skin samples of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Sicily, for monitoring of environmental metals pollution. Metals determination, carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), showed the presence of Pb and Cu in all samples analyzed. Pb concentrations were similar in muscle (0.04±0.009mg/kg) and skin (0.03±0.004mg/kg) samples, while Cu levels resulted higher in muscle (1.842±0.178mg/kg) than in skin (1.22±0.151mg/kg). In addition, a comparative analysis of Pb and Cu concentrations was carried out among samples from different areas of Sicily and between female and male, young and old, immature and mature foxes. Metals content found in all muscle and skin samples demonstrates that V. vulpes could be a valid “sentinel” species of rural and suburban areas to study the environmental metals pollution and the habitat quality.

Determination of Heavy Metal Concentration in Fish Samples, Sediment and Water from Odo-Ayo River in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria

This research work was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals namely, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd in three matrices including sediment, water and Fish organs (gills, flesh, kidney and liver). The fish sample, Clarias gariepinus was collected from Odo-Ayo River in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The results obtained showed that the concentration of heavy metal in water (Zn-4.65, Mn-0.79, Cu-0.84, Fe-5.87, Pb-0.16, Cd-0.13) was lower than that of the concentration of heavy metal in sediment (Zn-5.04, Mn-0.98, Cu-1.37, Fe-6.94, Pb-0.30, Cd-0.20), While the concentration of heavy metals in water was higher than that of fish parts (Zn-0.95, Mn-0.82, Cu-0.66, Fe-1.09, Pb-0.09, Cd-0.04). This confirms that sediments are repository of metals in water. The concentration of heavy metals recorded in the fish parts also indicated a certain degree of bio-accumulation. The concentration of all metals in water were below the WHO and FEPA recommended limits and suggested that the water of Odo-Ayo River was suitable for drinking, but the bio-concentration factor of heavy metals in gills, kidney and liver of the fish are high beyond the tolerable level, which indicated that as far as these metals are concerned, the fish is unfit for human consumption. Consequently, close monitoring of metals pollution and the consumption of the fishes of Odo-Ayo River is recommended with a view to minimizing the risk of health of the population that depend on the river for their water and fish supply.

Heavy metals distribution in muscle, liver, kidney and gill of European catfish (Silurus glanis) from Italian Rivers

The accumulation of heavy metals in freshwaters has direct consequences to man and ecosystem. Thus, in this study, the concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic and chromium in organs of the predator European catfish (Silurus glanis) were investigated. Samples were collected annually in five sites covering the area of the Po River (North Italy) between 2007 and 2009.Metals were differently distributed in the various organs, the highest concentrations of Hg were found in muscle and liver, Cd in kidney, Pb in gill and liver, as in muscle, and of Cr in gill and liver. Our survey found Hg exceeding the Maximum Levels (MLs) of 0.5ppm in 18% of samples, while Pb and Cd were lower than the MLs set by European regulations in muscle tissues (1881/2006/EC and 629/2008/EC). Hg concentrations were significantly related to sampling stations studied, according to the presence of many industrial activities in the catchment area of Bormida and Tanaro Rivers. The finding that Hg did not fit food fish legislation limits indicated that S. glanis flesh might not be utilised for human consumption. A close monitoring of metals pollution is strongly recommended especially in piscivorous fish, cause their bioaccumulation capacity.

An Investigation on the Usability of Grass in Short Term Detection of Traffic-Related Pollution

The metal pollution monitoring caused by traffic is a costly application in which appropriate equipment is required as well. In order to avoid such a high cost, monitoring sessions are carried out when they are highly crucial to do. The difference of this study is that the usability of grass in biomonitoring while detecting the pollution caused by traffic in short term was discussed. Considering that grass can grow in a short time even in small areas that it is an all-season plant, the usability of grass as a short term biomonitoring was examined regarding the traffic pollution in Eskisehir’s 15 urban roadside locations, a province of Turkey. In this study, 15 days later, samples were collected and copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc analyses were performed. Heavy metals were determined by ICP-OES in all samples after acid digestion. The results were analyzed statistically by using SPSS 10 software at p < 0.05. The linearity analysis revealed the relationship between pollution and traffic density. The metal levels were significantly different than the corresponding levels at the medium and low traffic density roads. The correlation coefficient found each polluting metals as approximately 0.9 shows that grass can be used in short term biomonitoring of pollution caused by traffic.

Screen-printed Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Monitoring Metal Pollutants

The present review (with 231 references) focuses on developments made in the area of screen -printed biosensors and sensors for the determination of metal ions in industrial, environmental and biomedical applications. The year 2012 represents the twentieth anniversary of the first reported application of screen-printed electrodes for the determination of metal ions. Focus is placed o n fabrication techniques, operating details and performance characteristics for the selected applications. The greater proportion of articles have utilised the technique of stripping voltammetry, gaining detection limits in the low ng/mL (ppb) region. An increasing percentage of these have explored bismuth as an alternative to mercury for the modification of the carbon electrode surface. However, a steady number of applications have shown the possibility of utilising the unmodified screen-printed carbon,gold or silver electrode surface. More recently the alternative approach of electrochemical biosensors has become a growing area. The majority of these have exploited the inhabitation metal ions exhibit on the enzyme activity of urease, acetylcholineste rase and glucose oxidase gaining detection limits in the sub µg/mL region, however recent applications utilising thiol-functionalised oligonucleotides have been shown the possibility of gaining detection limits as low as 120 ng/L for Hg

Trace Element Concentrations in the Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 Caught from Sinop Coast of the Black Sea, Turkey

The concentrations of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in the soft parts of Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis caught from the Sinop coasts of the Black Sea have been measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for monitoring metal pollution level in the coastal water seasonally in 2010. In the present study, a statistically significant difference in the concentrations of all metals investigated was observed. The results were compared with previous studies and discussed. It is concluded that the mussels M. galloprovincialis are suitable biomonitors to assess changes in metal pollution in this coastal area of the Black Sea.

Choose of Heavy Metals Pollution Biomonitors: A Critic of the Method that uses Sediments total Metals Concentration as the Benchmark

The study aimed to come up with a list of specific macroalgae species, which could be used to biomonitor specific metal elements in the coastal waters of East Africa. Water extraction, EDTA, aqua regia extraction and optimized BCR 3-step sequential extracts were used to mimic bioavailable metals under various environmental conditions. The results indicated that Ulva lactuca could be used as a biomonitor to predict BCR 3-step sequential bioavailable Al, Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn and Ni whereas Sargassum species could be used as a biomonitor for BCR 3-step sequential bioavailable Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. In Sargassum spp. only Co showed significant correlation with concentration in sediment's aqua regia extracted metals whereas in Ulva lactuca only Al, Co, Cu and Fe showed significant correlation with total metals extracted through aqua regia procedure. This study therefore recommends the use of Ulva lactuca and Sargassum for biomonitoring of Al, Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn respectively. The study recommends the use of labile fraction of BCR sequential extraction for screening of macroalgae to be used for heavy metal pollution monitoring in East Africa region.

Effects of Metal Stress on Visible/Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectra of Vegetation

Vegetation which suffers from heavy metal stresses can cause changes of leaf color, shape and structural changes. The spectral characteristics of vegetation leaves is related to leaf thickness, leaf surface characteristics, the content of water, chlorophyll and other pigments. So the eco-physiology changes of plants can be reflected by spectral reflectance. Studies on the spectral response of vegetation to heavy metal stress can provide a theoretical basis for remote sensing monitoring of metal pollution in soils. In recent decades, there are substantial amounts of literature exploring the effects of heavy metals on vegetation spectra.

Eiseniella tetraedra (Savigny, 1826) (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) as a bioindicator of heavy metals

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of the earthworm Eiseniella tetraedra (Savigny, 1826) as a bioindicator for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure. The importance of earthworms in metal pollution monitoring is widely recognized in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the levels of Cd and Pb in soils and earthworm tissues were studied at two locations, Polur Falls and a riverside area located in Abali, in the Elburz Mountains in Iran. At both locations the concentration of Cd and Pb in earthworms was higher than in the surrounding soils and a significant difference was found between the two stations, the latter probably attributable to the (1) amount of pesticides that are used for crop treatment in Abali and (2) presence there of clay, which is known to be rich in Cd. Data indicate that E. tetraedra is an efficient bioaccumulator of Cd and Pb and might act thus serve as a bioindicator of exposure.

Spatial and temporal variation of metal concentrations in adult honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) have great potential for detecting and monitoring environmental pollution, given their wide-ranging foraging behaviour. Previous studies have demonstrated that concentrations of metals in adult honeybees were significantly higher at polluted than at control locations. These studies focused at a limited range of heavy metals and highly contrasting locations, and sampling was rarely repeated over a prolonged period. In our study, the potential of honeybees to detect and monitor metal pollution was further explored by measuring the concentration in adult honeybees of a wide range of trace metals, nine of which were not studied before, at three locations in the Netherlands over a 3-month period. The specific objective of the study was to assess the spatial and temporal variation in concentration in adult honeybees of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V and Zn. In the period of July–September 2006, replicated samples were taken at 2-week intervals from commercial-type beehives. The metal concentration in micrograms per gram honeybee was determined by inductive coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. Significant differences in concentration between sampling dates per location were found for Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn Sr, Ti and V, and significant differences in average concentration between locations were found for Co, Sr and V. The results indicate that honeybees can serve to detect temporal and spatial patterns in environmental metal concentrations, even at relatively low levels of pollution.

Assessment of Clam Ruditapes philippinarum as Heavy Metal Bioindicators Using NMR‐Based Metabolomics

AbstractThere are mainly distributed three pedigrees (White, Liangdao Red, and Zebra) of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in Yantai population along the Bohai marine and coast. However, the biological differences to environmental stressors have been ignored in toxicology studies, which could lead to the distortion of biological interpretations of toxicological effects induced by environmental contaminants. In this study, we applied a system biology approach, metabolomics to compare the metabolic profiles in digestive gland from three pedigrees of clam and characterize and compare the metabolic responses induced by mercury in clam digestive gland tissues to determine a sensitive pedigree of clam as a preferable bioindicator for metal pollution monitoring and toxicology research. The most abundant metabolites, respectively, included branched‐chain amino acids, alanine, and arginine in White samples, glutamate, dimethylglycine, and glycine in Zebra clams and acetylcholine, betaine, glucose, and glycogen in Liangdao Red clams. After 48 h exposure of 20 µg L−1 Hg2+, the metabolic profiles from the three pedigrees of clams showed differentially significant changes in alanine, glutamate, succinate, taurine, hypotaurine, glycine, arginine, glucose, etc. Our findings indicate the toxicological effects of mercury exposure in Manila clams including the neurotoxicity, disturbances in energetic metabolisms and osmoregulation in the digestive glands and suggest that Liangdao Red pedigree of clam could be a preferable bioindicator for the metal pollution monitoring based on the more sensitive classes of metabolic changes from digestive glands compared with other two (White and Zebra) pedigrees of clams.

Toxicological responses to acute mercury exposure for three species of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum by NMR-based metabolomics

The Manila clam ( Ruditapes philippinarum) has been considered a good sentinel species for metal pollution monitoring in estuarine tidal flats. Along the Bohai coast of China, there are dominantly distributed three species of clams (White, Liangdao Red and Zebra in Yantai population) endowed with distinct tolerances to environmental stressors. In this study, adductor muscle samples were collected from both control and acute mercury exposed White, Liangdao Red and Zebra clams, and the extracts were analyzed by NMR-based metabolomics to compare the metabolic profiles and responses to the acute mercury exposure to determine the most sensitive clam species capable of acting as abioindicator for heavy metal pollution monitoring. The major abundant metabolites in the White clam sample were branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), lactate, arginine, aspartate, acetylcholine, homarine and ATP/ADP, while the metabolite profile of Zebra clam sample comprised high levels of glutamine, acetoacetate, betaine, taurine and one unidentified metabolite. For the Liangdao Red clam sample, the metabolite profile relatively exhibited high amount of branched-chain amino acids, arginine, glutamate, succinate, acetylcholine, homarine and two unassigned metabolites. After 48 h exposure of 20 μg L −1 Hg 2+, the metabolic profiles showed significant differences between three clam species, which included increased lactate, succinate, taurine, acetylcholine, betaine and homarine and decreased alanine, arginine, glutamine, glutamate, acetoacetate, glycine and ATP/ADP in White clam samples, and elevated succinate, taurine and acetylcholine, and declined glutamine, glycine, and aspartate in Liangdao Red clam samples, while the increased branched-chain amino acids, lactate, succinate, acetylcholine and homarine, and reduced alanine, acetoacetate, glycine and taurine were observed in the Zebra clam samples. Overall, our findings showed that White clams could be a preferable bioindicator for the metal pollution monitoring based on the more sensitive metabolic changes in the adductor muscle compared with other two (Liangdao Red and Zebra) clam species.

Applied research of correspondence analysis method in waste tailings reservoir heavy metal pollution monitoring points optimization

In order to optimize monitoring points and monitoring factor, the relationship between pollutants and soil sample were established by correspondence analysis. The study results show that the reflecting monitoring points and monitoring factors in the graphic on the same factor axis can clearly express the intrinsic link between pollutants and monitoring points and distribution characteristics. To determine the main monitoring point and the main monitoring indicators can reduce and optimize the number of monitoring points under the premise of ensuring the typical and representative of monitoring data. Using the correlation of pollutants can reduce the number of monitoring indicators and improve the effectiveness of data collection.

Differential toxicological effects induced by mercury in gills from three pedigrees of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum by NMR-based metabolomics

Mercury is a hazardous pollutant in the Bohai marine environments due to its high toxicity to the marine organisms and subsequent ecological risk. Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is one of important sentinel organisms in 'Mussel Watch Program' launched in China and therefore used as a bioindicator in marine and coastal ecotoxicology. There are dominantly distributed three pedigrees of clam (White, Liangdao Red and Zebra) in Yantai population endowed with different tolerances to environmental stressors. In this study, gill tissues were collected from both untreated and mercury exposed White, Liangdao Red and Zebra clams, and the extracts were analyzed by NMR-based metabolomics to compare the original metabolomes and the toxicological effects induced by mercury exposure in three pedigrees. The major abundant metabolites in White clam sample were branched-chain amino acids, lactate, alanine, arginine, acetoacetate, glutamate, succinate, citrate, malonate and taurine, while the metabolite profile of Liangdao Red clam sample comprises relative high levels of alanine, arginine, glutamate, succinate and glycogen. For Zebra clam sample, the metabolite profile exhibited relatively high amount of aspartate, acetylcholine and homarine. After 48 h exposure of 20 μg l(-1) Hg(2+), the metabolic profiles from all the three pedigrees of clams commonly showed significant increases in alanine, arginine, glutamate, aspartate, α-ketoglutarate, glycine and ATP/ADP, and decreases in citrate, taurine and homarine. The unique metabolic differences between the metabolomes of gill tissues from Hg(2+)-exposed White, Liangdao Red and Zebra clams were found, including elevated acetylcholine and branched-chain amino acids in White clams, and the declined succinate in both White and Liangdao Red samples as well as the declined betaine in Zebra and White clams. Overall, our findings showed the differential toxicological responses to mercury exposure and that White clams could be a preferable bioindicator for the metal pollution monitoring based on the metabolic changes from gill compared with other two (Liangdao Red and Zebra) pedigrees of clams.

Metallothionein responses in the earthworm Lampito mauritii (Kinberg) following lead and zinc exposure: A promising tool for monitoring metal contamination

Biomarkers allow the evaluation of possible biochemical effects under various metal contaminations in the terrestrial environment. In order to attain this objective adult, sexually mature Lampito mauritii were exposed to different concentrations of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) separately for 28 days and concentrations of metallothionein were assessed by radioassay method using 203Hg. A significant increase in tissue metallothionein level was recorded in L. mauritii exposed to Pb and Zn contaminated soil. Thus it may be surmised that metallothioneins are directly involved in metal ion detoxification and helps L. mauritii to survive in metal contaminated soil. Moreover the sensitivity of this biochemical parameter observed in L. mauritii exposed to Pb and Zn can be used as reliable biomarker in monitoring metal pollution.