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Monitoring pollution in Tunisian coasts using a scale of classification based on biochemical markers in worms Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor

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Abstract

This paper aims to assess the marine environment quality along the Tunisian coasts using a statistical approach based on biomarkers response in the polychaete worms Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor. Worms were collected from six sites: Bizerta Lagoon, Gargour, Nakta, Mahres, Skhira and from Teboulba considered as a reference site. The biomarkers selected in this work were (1) the activities of cytochrome P450-dependent NADPH cytochrome c reductase (NADPH red) as phase I enzyme, (2) glutathione S-transferase as phase II enzyme and (3) the acetylcholinesterase activity as neurotoxicity marker. Oxidative stress was evaluated using catalase activity and malondialdehyde accumulation. For each biomarker, a discriminatory factor was calculated and a response index was allocated. For each site, a multi-marker pollution index was calculated as the sum of the response index of each of the five more discriminating biomarkers. The results show differences between sites compared with the reference samples. The multi-marker approach confirms that worms from Bizerta and Mahress have been submitted to highly polluted environment. Mahress shows the highest multi-marker pollution index, indicating a highly contamination status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoiry of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Higher Institute of Agronomy, 4042, Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia

    Zied Bouraoui, Mohamed Banni, Jihen Ghedira, Jamel Jebali & Hamadi Boussetta

  2. Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, La Goulette, Tunisia

    Lassad Chouba

  3. Laboratoire de Physico-Toxico Chimie des Systèmes Naturels, Université Bordeaux I, Talence Cedex, Bordeaux I, France

    Cristelle Clerandeau & Jean Francois Narbonne

Authors
  1. Zied Bouraoui
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  2. Mohamed Banni
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  3. Lassad Chouba
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  4. Jihen Ghedira
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  5. Cristelle Clerandeau
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  6. Jamel Jebali
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  7. Jean Francois Narbonne
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  8. Hamadi Boussetta
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Correspondence to Mohamed Banni or Hamadi Boussetta.

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Bouraoui, Z., Banni, M., Chouba, L. et al. Monitoring pollution in Tunisian coasts using a scale of classification based on biochemical markers in worms Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor . Environ Monit Assess 164, 691–700 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0921-x

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