Biomarcadores em estudos ambientais: a vigília dos bivalves na ria de Aveiro (Portugal) e no rio Ceará (Brasil)

Abstract

The search for methodologies that integrate information about environmental quality has been subject of several studies around the world. In such way, biomarkers have the purpose to establish a relationship between changes on healthy body status and effects arising from environmental contamination, by means of analyzing biochemical, cytological, physiological and behavioral levels. Bivalves have several essential characteristics of a ‘sentinel organism’ in studies on environmental quality, e.g. sedentary and filter feeders habit. From this scenario, the present study aimed to assess the responses of several biomarkers in bivalves representing transitional coastal ecosystems in Brazil, at Ceará river with the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae, and in Portugal, at ria de Aveiro with cockle Cerastoderma edule, in order to identify possible biological changes related to environmental contamination. Ria de Aveiro most contaminated sites by mercury (Hg) was Bico do Laranjo, followed by Ílhavo, Rio Novo do Príncipe, Cais do Bacalhoeiro, São Jacinto and Barra with the lowest level of Hg, and can be used as a reference site for ecotoxicological studies. Bico do Laranjo presented the most significant changes of biomarkers among the six study sites, especially in october/09 and january/10 campaigns. The results from abril/10 campaign shown to be distinguished from other campaigns for all sampling sites, probably related to the reproductive period. The integration of all data obtained presented showed a significant correlation, but weak, between contamination by Hg in sediment and cockles, with glutathione S-transferase (GST) (positive), catalase (CAT) and condition index (negative). Cholinesterase (ChE) had shown a high correlation with contamination in each individual campaigns analyses, while in overall campaigns evaluation was positively correlated with carboxylesterase (CaE) and negatively correlated with lipid peroxidation (LPO), suggesting a contribution with xenobiotics detoxification and prevention of cellular damage. Within physiological biomarkers studied, clearance rate, air survival and condition index were correlated contamination Hg. By analysis of these parameters it was possible to distinguish four groups: one for the less impacted site Barra, sites with intermediate impact Cais do Bacalhoeiro and Rio Novo do Príncipe, São Jacinto and Ílhavo, and finally the most impacted site Bico do Laranjo. In the study conducted in Ceará River, oyster and sediment samples were collected at three sites in the estuary, in two distinct periods. Mercury bioaccumulation by oysters did not follow a pattern between sites sampled and two campaigns, and also did not reflect contamination in sediment. The main changes in biomarkers (CAE, IC and GST) were observed in february/11 sampling, mainly near the confluence with Maranguapinho river that drains domestic and industrial effluents. The results obtained in this work contribute to the biological responses in the bivalves' characterization, as well as for the identification of impacted sites at each ecosystem. Further studies with biomarkers in cockles and oysters are highly encouraged to better characterize the sensitivity and their application in monitoring programs.