Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:33:55.642Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Temporal changes in nickel and vanadium concentrationsand in condition index and metallothionein levels in threespecies of molluscs following the “Erika” oil spill

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2004

Jean-Claude Amiard ,
Hélène Bacheley ,
Anne-Laure Barillé ,
Laurent Barillé ,
Alain Geffard  and
Nolwenn Himery
Jean-Claude Amiard
Affiliation:
Service d'écotoxicologie, SMAB, EA 2160, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Hélène Bacheley
Affiliation:
Service d'écotoxicologie, SMAB, EA 2160, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Anne-Laure Barillé
Affiliation:
EMI, EA 2663, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Laurent Barillé
Affiliation:
EMI, EA 2663, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Alain Geffard
Affiliation:
Service d'écotoxicologie, SMAB, EA 2160, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Nolwenn Himery
Affiliation:
Service d'écotoxicologie, SMAB, EA 2160, ISOMer, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Get access

Abstract

The petroleum spilt by the tanker “Erika” contained environmentally high concentrations of nickel (45 mg kg−1) and vanadium (83 mg kg−1). Our aim was to show that nickel and vanadium concentrations in marine organisms could be used as tracers of their exposure to oil deposits along the coast. Two biomarkers were determined, condition index (CI) and metallothionein levels.Samples were collected monthly from January to May 2000 from five sites along the coast of Vendée and Loire Atlantique: (1) Lérat, (2) La Govelle, (3) Saint Gildas, (4) La Bernerie and (5) La Fosse. Among benthic invertebrates, mussels Mytilus edulis (filter-feeders), periwinkles Littorina littorea (grazing-feeders) and dogwhelks Nucella lapillus (carnivora, bivalve predators) were selected. In addition, mussels were collected from a control site, Fier d'Ars (Ré Island). The species chosen as bioindicators have responded to the presence of oil in their environment by accumulating nickel and vanadium. The bioaccumulation of vanadium occurred early one month after oil spill whereas nickel bioaccumulation was deferred, probably as a consequence of a lower stability of vanadylporphyrins compared to nickelporphyrins which are known in particular for their role in stabilizing emulsions (film at the water/oil interface). Interspecific differences may be explained by different food habits: periwinkles grazed contaminated algae; mussels as filter-feeders retained particles and colloids from the water column; dogwhelks fed on mussels. Spatio-temporal changes of nickel and vanadium concentrations may result from (i) the arrival of new oil slicks, (ii) the action of cleaning of the coasts contributing to the re-suspension of petroleum. In all of the three species, few changes of the CI were observed from site to site. CI variations were linked to sexual ripening in mussels. Mussels originating from the control site showed MT concentrations significantly lower than those in specimens from impacted sites. The highest MT concentrations were observed in January and February, and then a consistent decrease was registered in March and May. MT concentrations in periwinkles increased very significantly in March and May. An increase in MT concentrations was also shown at this period in dogwhelks. Depending on the species, positive correlations were shown between MT and nickel and/or vanadium concentrations.

Keywords

NickelVanadiumCondition indexMetallothioneinMolluscsMusselMytilus edulisDogwhelkNucella lapillusPeriwinkleLittorina littorea
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 17 , Issue 3: The "Erika" Oil Spill: Environmental Contamination and Effects in the Bay of Biscay , July 2004 , pp. 281 - 288
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amiard J.-C., Cosson R.P., 1997, Les métallothionéines. In: Lagadic, L., Caquet, T., Amiard, J.-C., Ramade, F., Masson (Eds.), Biomarqueurs en écotoxicologie – Aspects fondamentaux, Masson, Paris, pp. 53-66.
Amiard J.-C., Caquet T., Lagadic L., 2000, Biomarkers as tools for environmental quality assessment. In: Lagadic, L., Caquet, T., Amiard, J.-C., Ramade, F. (Eds.), Use of Biomarkers for Environmental Quality Assessment, Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield, USA, pp. 17-27.
Amiard, J.-C., Pineau, A., Boiteau, H.L., Métayer, C., Amiard-Triquet, C., 1987, Application de la spectrométrie d'absorption atomique Zeeman aux dosages de huit éléments traces (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb et Se) dans des matrices biologiques solides. Water Res. 21, 693-697. CrossRef
Barka, S., Pavillon, J.-F., Amiard, J.-C., 2001, Influence of different essential and non-essential metals on MTLP levels in the Copepod Tigriopus brevicornis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 128C, 479-493.
Bebianno, M.J., Serafim, M.A., 1998, Comparison of metallothionein induction in response to cadmium in the gills of the bivalve molluscs Mytilus galloprovincialis and Ruditapes decussatus. Sci. Tot. Environ. 214, 123-131. CrossRef
Bebianno, M.J., Langston, W.J., Simkiss, K., 1992, Metallothionein induction in Littorina littorea (Mollusca: Prosobranchia) on exposure to cadmium. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 72, 329-342. CrossRef
Bodoy, A., Prou, J., Berthomé, J.P., 1986, Étude comparative de différents indices de condition chez l'huître creuse (Crassostrea gigas). Haliotis 15, 173-182.
Brdicka, A., 1933, Polarographic studies with the dropping mercury method. A new test for proteins in the presence of cobalt salts in ammoniacal solution of ammonium chloride. Collect. Czech Chem. Commun. 5, 112-128.
Bryan, G.W., Langston, W.J., Hummerstone, L.G., Burt, G.R., Ho, Y.B., 1983, An assessment of the gastropod, Littorina littorea, as an indicator of heavy-metal contamination in United Kingdom estuaries. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 63, 327-345. CrossRef
Bu-Olayan, A.H., Subramanyam, M.N.V., 1997, Accumulation of copper, nickel, lead and zinc by snail, Lunella coronatus and pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata from the Kuwait coast before and after the gulf war oil spill. Sci. Total Environ. 197, 161-165. CrossRef
Coquery M., Azemard S., De Mora S.J., 2000, World-wide intercomparison exercise for the determination of trace elements and methylmercury in estuarine sediment sample IAEA-405. Report No. IAEA/AL/127 and IAEA/MEL/70.
Coquery M., Azemard S., De Mora S.J., 2001, The analytical performance study for the Medpol region: determination of trace elements and methylmercury in estuarine sediment sample IAEA-405 Report.
Cosson, R.P., 2000, Bivalve metallothionein as a biomarker of aquatic ecosystem pollution by trace metals: limits and perspectives. Cell. Mol. Biol. 46, 295-309.
Cosson R.P., Amiard J.-C., 1998, Utilisation des métallothionéines comme biomarqueurs d'exposition aux métaux. In: Lagadic, L., Caquet, T., Amiard, J.-C., Ramade, F. (Eds.), Utilisation de biomarqueurs pour la surveillance de la qualité de l'environnement, Lavoisier Tec&Doc, Paris, pp. 77-109.
Cosson R.P., Amiard J.-C., 2000, Use of metallothioneins as biomarkers of exposure to metals. In: Lagadic, L., Caquet, T., Amiard, J.-C., Ramade, F. (Eds.), Use of Biomarkers for Environmental Quality Assessment, Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield. 79-111.
Daguzan J., 1975, Recherche sur les Littorinidés. Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Rennes I.
De Koch W.C., Kramer K.J.M., 1994. Active biomonitoring (ABM) by translocation of bivalve molluscs. In: Kramer K.J.M. (Ed.), Biomonitoring of coastal waters and estuaries, CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 51-84.
De Wolf, H., Backeljau, T., Blust, R., 2000, Heavy metal accumulation in the periwinkle Littorina littorea along a pollution gradient in the Scheldt estuary. Sci. Total Environ. 262, 111-121. CrossRef
Fretter V. Graham A., 1962, Bristish Prosbranch Molluscs. Their functional anatomy and ecology. Ray Society Ed., London.
Geffard, A., Geffard, O., His, E., Amiard, J.-C., 2002, Relationships between metal bioaccumulation and metallothionein levels in larvae of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to contaminated estuarine sediment. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 233, 131-142. CrossRef
Isani G., Andreani G., Kindt M., Carpenè E. 2000, Metallothioneins (MTs) in marine molluscs. Cell. Mol. Biol. 46, 311-330.
Lafontaine Y., Gagné F., Blaise C., Costan G., Gagnon P., Chan H.M., 2000. Biomarkers in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for the assessment and monitoring of water quality of the St- Lawrence River (Canada). Aquat. Toxicol. 50, 51-71.
Lagadic L., Caquet T., Amiard J.-C., Ramade F., 1997, Biomarqueurs en écotoxicologie, Aspects fondamentaux. Masson, Paris.
Lagadic L., Caquet T., Amiard J.-C., Ramade F., 2000, Use of Biomarkers for Environmental Quality Assessment. Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield.
Lee, R.F., 1999, Agents with promote and stabilize water-in-oil emulsions. Spill Sci. Technol. Bull. 5, 117-126. CrossRef
Leung, M.Y., Furness, W., 1999a, Effects of animal size on concentrations of metallothionein and metals in periwinckles Littorina littorea collected from the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 39, 126-136. CrossRef
Leung, M.Y., Furness, W., 1999b, Induction of metallothionein in dogwhelk Nucella lapillus during and after exposure to cadmium. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 43, 156-164. CrossRef
Leung, M.Y., Furness, W., 2001, Metallothionein induction and condition index of dogwhelks Nucella lapillus exposed to cadmium and hydrogen peroxide. Chemosphere 44, 321-325. CrossRef
Mackay, E.A., Overnell, J., Dunbar, B., Davidson, I., Hunzinker, P.E., Kägi, J.H.R., Fothergill, J.E., 1993, Complete amino acid sequence of five dimeric and four monomeric forms of metallothionein from the edible mussel Mytilus edulis. Eur. J. Biochem. 218, 183-194. CrossRef
Miramand P., Fowler S.W., 1998, Bioaccumalation and transfer of vanadium in marine organisms. In: Nriagu J.O. (Ed.), Vanadium in the Environment. Part 1: Chemistry and Biochemistry, John Wiley & Sons Inc, pp. 167-197.
Miramand P., Guary J.C., Fowler S.W., 1980, Vanadium transfer in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mar. Biol., 56, 281-293.
Mourgaud Y., Martinez E., Geffard A., Andral B., Stanisière J.Y., Amiard J.C. 2002, Metallothionein concentration in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a biomarker of response to metal contamination: validation in the field. Biomarkers 7, 479-490.
Olafson, R.W., Olsson, P.E., 1991, Electrochemical detection of metallothionein. Meth. Enzymol. 205, 205-213. CrossRef
Raspor, B., 2001, Elucidation of the mechanism of the Bridcka reaction. J. Electroanal. Chem. 503, 159-162. CrossRef
Roméo, M., Mourgaud, Y., Geffard, A., Gnassia-Barelli, M., Amiard, J.-C., Budzinski, H., 2003, Multimarker approach in transplanted mussels for evaluating water quality in Charentes, France, coast areas exposed to different anthropogenic conditions. Environ. Toxicol. 18, 295-305. CrossRef
Roux N., Chiffoleau J.F., Claisse D., 2001, L'argent, le cobalt, le nickel et le vanadium dans les mollusques du littoral français. In: Surveillance du milieu marin, Travaux du Réseau National d'Observation de la qualité du milieu marin, pp. 11-20.
Thompson, J.A.J., Cosson, R.P., 1984, An improved electrochemical method for the quantification of metallothioneins in marine organisms. Mar. Environ. Res. 11, 137-152. CrossRef
Tiercelin C., Marchand M., Rousseau C., 2000, Spécial accident de l'Erika, golfe de Gascogne (Sud-Bretagne), 12 décembre 1999. Bull. Information Centr. Doc. Rech. Expériment. Pollut. Accid. Eaux, No. 13 1er et 2e semestre 1999, 1er semestre 2000.
Tronczynski J., Munschy C., Moisan K., Guiot N., Truquet I., Olivier N., Men S., Furaut A., 2004. Contamination of the Bay of Biscay by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) following the T/V “Erika” oil spill. Aquat. Living Resour. 17, 243.
Viarengo A., Nott A., 1993, Mechanisms of heavy metal cation homeostasis in marine invertebrates, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 104 C, 355-372.
Yen T.F., 1975, Chemical aspects of metals in native petroleum. In: Yen, T.F (Ed.), The role of trace metals in petroleum Chemical aspects of metals in native petroleum, Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc, pp. 1-30.