The combined use of chemical and biochemical markers in Rutilus rutilus to assess the effect of dredging in the lower course of the Ebro River
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Author
Blanco, Maria
Fernandes, Denise
Rizzi, Juliane
Huertas, David
Fernández, Pilar
Porte, Cinta
Publication date
2018-02-26ISSN
0147-6513
Abstract
The lower course of the Ebro River is polluted with high concentrations of organochlorine compounds dumped by a chloro-alkali plant during the last century. A remediation plan, including building of a protective wall, removal and disposal of polluted sediments started in 2012. With the aim of assessing the effects of dredging of contaminated sediments and potential alterations of water quality, areas located upstream (RR) and downstream (BE, A) the chemical plant (FL) were monitored prior (October 2012) and during dredging (June 2013) using roach (Rutilus rutilus) as sentinel organisms. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds (OCs) in fish muscle and biliary levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), galaxolide (HHCB) and alkyphenols (APEs) were determined together with selected enzymatic activities (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), 7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin O-debenzyloxylase (BFCOD) and UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UGT)) in the liver. The obtained results proved the effectiveness of the wall retaining suspended particles and avoiding further contamination of downstream sites as fish sampled at downstream sites showed up to 9-fold higher concentrations of OCs in muscle during wall construction than during dredging. EROD and UGT activities were induced in fish from downstream sites; however, no clear response to the observed pollution gradient was detected.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Accepted version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
504 - Threats to the environment
Pages
39
Publisher
Elsevier
Is part of
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Citation
Blanco, Maria, Denise Fernandes, Juliane Rizzi, David Huertas, Nuno Caiola, Pilar Fernández, and Cinta Porte. 2018. "The Combined Use Of Chemical And Biochemical Markers In Rutilus Rutilus To Assess The Effect Of Dredging In The Lower Course Of The Ebro River". Ecotoxicology And Environmental Safety 155: 9-16. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.02.060.
Program
Aigües Marines i Continentals
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2811]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/