Biological responses to contaminants in the Humber Estuary: Disentangling complex relationships

J. García-Alonso (1, 2) , G.M. Greenway (3) , A. Munshi (3, 4) , J.C. Gómez , K. Mazik (5) , A.W. Knight , J.D. Hardege (2) , M. Elliott (5)

1 Department of Zoology
2 Department of Biological Sciences [Hull]
3 Department of Chemistry
4 Center for Environmental Studies [Karachi]
5 University of Hull

Due to the ecological importance of estuaries, it is necessary to understand the biological effects that potentially toxic contaminants induce in bioindicator species. A key aspect is whether effects at lower levels of biological organisation transfer through the system to higher levels. In understanding such processes, characterising multivariate relationships between contaminants, sediment toxicities and detoxification processes are important. Worms () and sediments were collected along the Humber Estuary, England, and inorganic and organic contaminants were quantified. Sediment toxicities and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) activity in the ragworm were analysed. Concentrations of metals were highest near urban and industrial areas, whereas organic contaminants appeared at upstream locations. GST activity correlated with heavy metals. The genotoxicity, estrogenicity, dioxin and dioxin-like activity were higher at upstream locations. Estrogenicity correlated with alkylphenols and some organochlorines, whilst genotoxicity correlated with organochlorines and heavy metals. Despite this, higher level biological responses could not be predicted, indicating that homeostasis is operating.

Mots clés: Trace metals; organic pollutants; GST; sediment toxicity; environmental homeostasis; Humber estuary

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

J. García-Alonso, G.M. Greenway, A. Munshi, J.C. Gómez, K. Mazik, et al.. Biological responses to contaminants in the Humber Estuary: Disentangling complex relationships. Marine Environmental Research, 2011, 71 (4), pp.295. ⟨10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.02.004⟩. ⟨hal-00682419⟩