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Application of neutral red retention assay to caged clams (Ruditapes decussatus) and crabs (Carcinus maenas) in the assessment of dredged material

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Abstract

Dredged material management is a key issue for the protection of aquatic environments. The in situ approach using caged bioindicator species has been chosen lately as a new methodology for the assessment of dredged material. In a tier testing approach, neutral red retention (NRR) assay has been applied as a screening tool to detect adverse changes in health status associated with contamination. Nevertheless, to authors’ knowledge, little is known about the application and validation of this technique in sediment bioindicator species and under field conditions. Caged Ruditapes decussatus and Carcinus maenas were exposed during 28 days to potentially contaminated sediments at three sites in Algeciras Bay (SW Spain) and one site in Cádiz Bay (SW Spain). Lysosomal membrane stability was measured over time in haemolymph samples of exposed clams and crabs using the NRR assay. Sediment characterization of the study sites was performed in parallel. NRR time did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) over time in organisms from Cádiz Bay. Conversely, significant differences (p < 0.05) in NRR time were found in clams and crabs exposed to sediments from Algeciras Bay, which exhibited a 30–70% decrease in haemocyte lysosome membrane stability compared to day 0. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between the drop of haemocyte lysosome membrane stability, in both crabs and clams, and the presence of metals (p < 0.05) and PAHs (p < 0.01) in the studied sediments. The results obtained confirmed the use of NRR assay as a suitable and sensitive method to be used in the assessment of sediment quality using as bioindicator species the clam R. philippinarum and the crab C. maenas.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by different Research Projects funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CTM2008-06344-C03-02/TECNO and CTM2008-06344-C03-03/TECNO). Sara Buratti was funded by Marco Polo mobility fellowship offered by Italian Government. Authors are grateful to Kiko and Rocío for their assistance in the field. Authors would like to thank Carmen Ramos and Robert Dunn for their selfless help in reviewing the English of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdepartment Centre for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRSA), University of Bologna, via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy

    Sara Buratti & Elena Fabbri

  2. UNITWIN/UNESCO/WiCoP, Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    Julia Ramos-Gómez

  3. UNITWIN/UNESCO/WiCoP, Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    T. Angel DelValls & M. Laura Martín-Díaz

  4. Centro Andaluz de Ciencia y Tecnología Marinas (CACYTMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    M. Laura Martín-Díaz

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  1. Sara Buratti
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Correspondence to Sara Buratti.

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Buratti, S., Ramos-Gómez, J., Fabbri, E. et al. Application of neutral red retention assay to caged clams (Ruditapes decussatus) and crabs (Carcinus maenas) in the assessment of dredged material. Ecotoxicology 21, 75–86 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0767-1

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