Ecotoxicological effects of sediments from Mar Piccolo, South Italy: toxicity testing with organisms from different trophic levels

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Abstract

Italy) is a semi-enclosed and strongly polluted basin. For decades,it has been subjected to different anthropogenic impacts.These stressors caused severe sediments contaminationwith high concentration of different pollutants (PAHs, PCB,heavy metals). In order to assess the current status of sedimentscontamination, an ecotoxicological investigation combinedwith chemical analysis (heavy metals, PAH, and PCB)has been performed. In order to derive ecologically relevantconclusions, a multiorganisms and multiend-points approachhas been applied, exposing organisms from different trophiclevels to elutriate and whole sediment. The battery of bioassaysconsists of a microalgal growth inhibition test(Dunaliella tertiolecta), acute and sublethal assays (endpoints:mortality, immobilization and swimming speed alteration)on crustaceans larvae and juveniles, and rotifers(Amphibalanus amphitrite, Artemia salina, Corophiuminsidiosum and Brachionus plicatilis), and embryotoxicity teston echinoderms (Paracentrotus lividus). Considering the highlevels of sediment contamination highlighted from chemicalanalysis, an unexpected very low toxic effect was observed,even considering the sublethal end-point (larval swimmingspeed alteration). The results of this study suggest a very complexcontaminants dynamic in the Mar Piccolo sediments that,despite a strong level of contamination, seems to not affect in aproportional manner the biological compartment.

Autore Pugliese

Tutti gli autori

  • E. Costa;V. Piazza;C. Gambardella;R. Moresco; E. Prato; F. Biandolino; D. Cassin; M. Botter;D. Maurizio; R. D'Adamo; A. Fabbrocini; M. Faimali;F. Garaventa

Titolo volume/Rivista

Environmetal science and pollution research international

Anno di pubblicazione

2015

ISSN

1614-7499

ISBN

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