RESUMEN
Pollutants often exist as mixtures in environmental settings, creating a challenge in selecting the most effective combination of biomarkers for routine monitoring. This study was conducted seasonally in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, to compare the responses of nine biomarkers in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis with respect to its tissue levels of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. Multivariate statistical techniques were utilised to determine the single best predictor and optimal subset of biomarkers in P. viridis for each of the four scenarios: representing overall biomarker responses in the dry season, and wet season, as well as correlating tissue levels of mixed pollutants in the dry season, and wet season. Our findings recommend lysosomal destabilisation, and the nucleic acid ratio of RNA to DNA, as the core biomarkers in P. viridis for marine pollution monitoring. The non-specificity of these biomarkers allows effective identification of pollution hotspots and guides further detailed assessment.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Perna , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Biomarcadores/análisis , Hong Kong , Metales Pesados/análisis , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
The green-lipped mussel Perna viridis was utilised for pollution biomonitoring in Victoria Harbour and its adjacent aquaculture area in Hong Kong. P. viridis was collected from a reference site and redeployed at five study sites for five weeks during the dry and wet seasons of 2019. Our study found various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in the mussel tissue, while polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were not detected. P. viridis at the reference site generally displayed lower levels of pollutants. Comparing with previous research in the 1980s and 2000s, we observed substantial reduction in the tissue levels of PAHs, PCBs, OCPs and heavy metals in P. viridis. The human health risks associated with consuming these mussels were determined to be insignificant. Our findings imply that the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme has been effective in improving the water quality in Victoria Harbour and its adjacent aquaculture area.
Asunto(s)
Bivalvos , Contaminantes Ambientales , Hidrocarburos Clorados , Metales Pesados , Perna , Bifenilos Policlorados , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Humanos , Animales , Contaminantes Ambientales/análisis , Bifenilos Policlorados/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Bioacumulación , Hong Kong , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Hidrocarburos Clorados/análisis , Calidad del Agua , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Acuicultura , Metales Pesados/análisisRESUMEN
The impacts of high-density microplastics, namely polyamine 6,6 (nylon), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on growth and behaviour of the endangered tri-spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus were investigated for 100 days. Negative changes in wet weight and prosomal width of the juveniles were observed in all treatments of microplastics, but significant difference was only detected in prosomal width between control and PMMA. T. tridentatus became significantly less active upon exposure to nylon and PET. The extent of burrowing by T. tridentatus did not significantly differ among the treatments but was overall significantly reduced towards day 100. T. tridentatus exposed to PET significantly showed the lowest survival probability (30 %), compared to the other treatments (70-90 %). In conclusion, high-density microplastics compromised growth and behaviour of juvenile horseshoe crabs. Among the polymers that were tested, PET was considered more harmful and associated with higher mortality.