Biological responses to contaminants in the Humber Estuary: disentangling complex relationships |
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| Authors: | García-Alonso J Greenway G M Munshi A Gómez J C Mazik K Knight A W Hardege J D Elliott M |
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| Institution: | a Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England, UK;b Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, England, UK;c Centre of Environmental Studies, PCSIR, Karachi 75280, Pakistan;d UNDECIMAR, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay;e Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, England, UK;f Gentronix Limited CTF Building, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, England, UK;g Department of Biological Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, England, UK |
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| Abstract: | 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 (Hediste diversicolor) 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, oestrogenicity, dioxin and dioxin-like activity were higher at upstream locations. Oestrogenicity 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. |
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| Keywords: | Trace metals Organic pollutants GST Sediment toxicity Environmental homeostasis Humber Estuary |
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