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Interrelationships among trace metals and metallothionein in digestive glands and gills for field samples of Merceneria merceneria

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Abstract

More widespread use of metallothionein (MT) as a biomarker for trace metal pollution continues to be partly dependent on obtaining reliable baseline concentrations and identifying increased induction of the enzyme with only modest increases in metal concentrations. In this study, new data on metals and MT levels in whole clams tissue, gills, and digestive glands from field samples and in sediments are presented. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn in depurated (24 h) clam samples of digestive glands, gills, and the whole clam Merceneria merceneria from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, varied with location and showed moderate to strong correlations among Zn, Cu, and Fe. Concentrations of metallothionein (dry wt.) ranged from 34─270 μg/g in gills and 150–440 μg/g in digestive glands and showed moderate to strong correlations between organs and with metal concentrations in those organs. Observed trends support increased synthesis of metallothionein with only moderate increases in metal values and in response to statistically higher sediment metal concentrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des Sciences - Département de Chimie, UR-Chimie Appliquée et Environnement, Boulevard de l’Environnement, Université de Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Neila Drira

  2. Department of Marine and Environmental Systems, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, 32901, USA

    John H. Trefry & Robert P. Trocine

Authors
  1. Neila Drira
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  2. John H. Trefry
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  3. Robert P. Trocine
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Correspondence to Neila Drira.

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Responsible editor: Cinta Porte

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Drira, N., Trefry, J.H. & Trocine, R.P. Interrelationships among trace metals and metallothionein in digestive glands and gills for field samples of Merceneria merceneria . Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 27897–27904 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0368-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0368-5

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