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A Biomonitoring Study Assessing the Residual Biological Effects of Pollution Caused by the HAVEN Wreck on Marine Organisms in the Ligurian Sea (Italy)

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Abstract

Residual biological effects of the 1991 HAVEN oil spill off the Ligurian (Arenzano) coast were assessed in this study. Samples of the fish species Boops boops, Mullus barbatus, and Uranoscupus scaber were collected from two polluted sites near the HAVEN wreck and from an uncontaminated area. In addition to this, mussels were caged along the coast affected by the HAVEN disaster. The physiological status of fish and mussels was assessed using a battery of stress and exposure biomarkers. The PAH content of mussel and fish tissues was also analyzed. Significant biological responses were observed in lysosomal membrane stability, neutral lipid and lipofuscin accumulation and micronucleus frequency for mussels caged at two sites close to the HAVEN wreck. Chemical analyses indicated, however, that these effects are not caused by aromatic hydrocarbons. For this reason, we suggest that the aftermath of the HAVEN disaster contributes very little to coastal ecosystem pollution. This was also confirmed by the few biological effects observed in fish specimens (Boops boops) collected from surface waters. Nevertheless, it is important to point out that benthic fish displayed a stress syndrome potentially caused by aromatic hydrocarbons released from the oil tanker, as witnessed by an enhanced EROD activity and increased lipofuscin and neutral lipid lysosomal contents.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by Regione Liguria (Dipartimento Ambiente e Territorio, Ufficio Ambiente Marino e Costiero) “Programma per la valutazione mediante bioindicatori dell’inquinamento chimico prodotto dall’affondamento della m/n Haven.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Department (DISAV), University of Piemonte Orientale, Via V. Bellini 25/G, 15100, Alessandria, Italy

    A. Viarengo & F. Dondero

  2. IRIS-International Research Institute of Stavanger, Merjarvik 12, N-4070, Randaberg, Norway

    D. M. Pampanin

  3. Centro Interuniversitario di Chimica e Biologia dei Metalli in Traccia, Ùniversita di Genova, 16100, Genova, C.so Europa, Italy

    R. Fabbri, E. Poggi & M. Malizia

  4. Toxicological Evaluation Unit, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo Benzi 10, 16100, Genova, Italy

    C. Bolognesi & E. Perrone

  5. Agenzia Regionale per l’Ambiente Regione Liguria, Piazza della Vittoria 15/C, 16121, Genova, Italy

    E. Gollo

  6. Agenzia Regionale per l’Ambiente Regione Piemonte, Via Santa Caterina 30, 15100, Alessandria, Italy

    G. P. Cossa

Authors
  1. A. Viarengo
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  2. F. Dondero
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  3. D. M. Pampanin
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  4. R. Fabbri
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  5. E. Poggi
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  6. M. Malizia
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  7. C. Bolognesi
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  8. E. Perrone
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  9. E. Gollo
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  10. G. P. Cossa
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Correspondence to A. Viarengo.

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Viarengo, A., Dondero, F., Pampanin, D.M. et al. A Biomonitoring Study Assessing the Residual Biological Effects of Pollution Caused by the HAVEN Wreck on Marine Organisms in the Ligurian Sea (Italy). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 53, 607–616 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-005-0209-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-005-0209-2

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