Evaluation of the use of bioaccumulation and biological effects tools in caged mussels, within the European Water Framework Directive

Abstract

Bioaccumulation and biological effects of pollution were assessed in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) caged for one month at three sites in the Oiartzun estuary (south-eastern Bay of Biscay, Spain) with the aim of evaluating their usefulness within the investigative monitoring defined in the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD). The highest concentrations of organic contaminants determined in mussels' tissue were detected towards the inner part of the estuary but no gradient pattern was found for metal bioaccumulation. Population fitness responses measured as condition index, stress on stress and gonad index were similar in all caged mussels and did not follow the organic pollution gradient. However, biomarkers determined at tissue, cell and protein level (histopathology, micronuclei frequency, malondialdehyde levels and vitellogenin-like protein levels) revealed a higher stress syndrome at the inner part of the estuary showing signs of genotoxicity, oxidative stress and endocrine disruption. Overall, the integrated chemical–biological approach in connection with mussel caging technique proved to be a useful tool to assess environmental pollution, allowing a better understanding of the cause–effect relationship within the investigative monitoring defined in the WFD.

Keywords:

• biological effects
• pollutants
• caged mussels
• Oiartzun estuary
• investigative monitoring
• Water Framework Directive

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Department of the Basque Government through IKERKOSTA project [S-PC08UN03] and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through DIAGNOSEAS project [CTM-2012-40203-C02-02]. Two of the authors were supported by the Programme Torres Quevedo (Ministry of Education and Science and European Social Fund). This paper is contribution number 703 from AZTI (Marine Research Division).