RESUMO
Ecotoxicological effects associated with contaminants present in dredged material from three Spanish ports, Ría of Huelva (SW, Spain), La Coruña (NW, Spain) and Bay of Cádiz (SW, Spain) were determined using a marine biotest based on endocrine disruption effects (vitellogenesis process alteration). Intermoult female Carcinus maenas were exposed in the laboratory to sediments from the Spanish ports per replicate during 21 days. Crab haemolymph samples were taken for vitellogenin/vitellin (VTG) analysis on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Furthermore, chemical analysis was performed in the stations to determine the degree and nature of sediment contamination (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As, PAHs and PCBs). A significant induction (P < 0.05) in vitellogenin/vitellin concentration was observed over time in individuals exposed to sediment samples containing significant concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, Hg, Pb and Zn. The toxicokinetic approach, proposed in this study related to the use of this biomarker in C. maenas, proved to be a powerful and sensitive tool to evaluate toxicity effects associated with contaminants present in dredged material. Moreover the integration of the results obtained through multivariate analysis approach (MAA) allowed the identification contaminants bound to sediments associated with adverse effects, validating the use of this marine biotest in a regulatory framework.