An ecotoxicological approach for assessing marine pollution: Comparative study of multi-responses of marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Perna perna, exposed to pollutant heavy metals (copper and lead)

The present research aims to evaluate the variation of several responses such as nitrogen and phosphorus excretion, catalase activity and total protein in the two species of marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis (Ain Tagoureite-Tipaza, Algeria) and Perna perna (Figuier-Boumerdes, Algeria), exposed to different sub-lethal concentrations of two heavy metals (copper, and lead). The measurement of the chemical and biochemical responses were made after an acute exposure period (the mussels' size is between 4.5 and 5.5 cm). The results showed that, through all exposure cycles, variations in temperature and salinity [0.10 +/- 0.05 degrees C >Delta T > 1.6 +/- 0.13 degrees C, 0.05 +/- 0.02% >Delta S > 0.65 +/- 0.03%] are far from significant in order to interfere with the effect caused by copper or lead pollutant. In both species, the remarkable changes in nitrogen and phosphorus mineral matter under two metals effect are a physiological disturbance origin. Consequently, the catalase induction and the proteins depletion [Mytilus galloprovincialis: | - 0.138| >Delta[protein total] > | - 1.601| (mg g-1 of flesh), Perna perna: | - 1.046| >Delta[protein total] > (0.56 mg g-1 of flesh)] during the contamination cycles reflected the oxidative stress caused with the varying levels. However, in decontamination cycles, the catalase enzymatic activity [Mytilus galloprovincialis ([Cu]=0.100 mg/l): [CAT] (day1) = 18.4, [CAT] (day3) = 50.06, and [CAT] (day11) = 29.3 U mg -1 of proteins, Perna perna([Cu] = 0.100 mg/l): [CAT] (day1) = 19.4, [CAT] (day3) = 59.11, and [CAT] (day11) = 33.02 U mg -1 of proteins], has revealed the normal state return when the environment is free of contamination. Through these results, the good relevance of pollution indication in the two species depends essentially on their sensitivity and tolerance, causing physiological and/or metabolite responses will vary according to the xenobiotics and their dose. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The present research aims to evaluate the variation of several responses in marine mussels exposed to different sub-lethal concentrations of copper and lead. The results showed that temperature and salinity variations were not significant enough to interfere with the effect of the pollutants. Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus mineral matter were found to be a physiological disturbance in both species. During the contamination cycles, catalase induction and protein depletion reflected the oxidative stress caused by the metals. However, the catalase activity returned to normal state during the decontamination cycles.