Before-During-After Biomonitoring Assessment for a Pipeline Construction in a Coastal Lagoon in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy)

During 2006–2008, a pipeline was buried in Vallona lagoon in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). A Before-During-After environmental monitoring programme was scheduled to monitor possible alterations. Bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s, BTs (butyltins) and HMW-PAHs (High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), and biological responses (Condition index, air Survival—LT50, Acetylcholinesterase, Micronuclei—MN, acyl-CoA oxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde—MDA, and the total oxyradical scavenging capacity—TOSCA) were investigated in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) from November 2005 to June 2015. In opera (IO) results showed higher levels of HMW-PAHs (73 ± 13 ng/g), BTs (90 ± 38 ng Sn/g) and increasing levels of Pb (6.7 ± 0.7 mg/kg) and Zn (73.6 ± 6.08 mg/kg) probably linked to works. Other contaminant alterations, especially metal(loid)s, before (AO) and after (PO) the burial, were attributed to a general condition of the area and mostly unrelated to works. In addition, LT50, MN and TOSCA showed alterations, probably due to hotspots occurring in IO. TOSCA and MDA increases, right after the burial, were considered delayed responses of IO, whilst other biological responses detected later were connected to the general condition of the area. Comparisons between results of Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) highlighted partial overlapping of AO and IO, whilst PO differed only for contaminants. Visual correlations between PCAs highlighted the biomarkers’ latter response.

Organotin compounds (OTs) in surface sediments, bivalves and algae from the Russian coast of the Barents Sea (Kola Peninsula) and the Fram Strait (Svalbard Archipelago)

Organotin pollution in components of benthic ecosystems was investigated in 2019 in the Barents Sea (South shore, Kola Peninsula) and the Fram Strait (Icefjord, Svalbard Archipelago). Six species of organotin compounds (OTs), including monobutyltin, dibutyltin, tributyltin, tetrabutyltin, triphenyltin and tricyclohexyltin, were measured in the surface sediments, bivalve molluscs (Ciliatocardium ciliatum, Macoma calcarea, Chlamys islandica) and macrophyte algae (Saccharina latissima, Palmaria palmata, Ulvaria obscura, Fucus serratus, Fucus distichus). The results obtained showed moderate contamination of the studied samples with OTs. The total content of six tin compounds was in the ranges 35-139 ng g-1, 13-108 ng g-1 and 2.9-75 ng g-1 (dry weight) in the samples of sediments, bivalves and algae, respectively. In most cases, the concentrations of tributyltin in bottom sediments and mollusc tissues did not exceed the established international regulations. The degradation indices analysis of butyl tin derivatives indicated the active transformation of tributyltin and tetrabutyltin in bottom sediments and macrophyte algae and the accumulation of these compounds in the soft tissues of molluscs. The sediment and mollusc concentrations of OTs measured in this study were comparable to those reported for other areas of the Arctic region.

Evidence of butyltin biomagnification along the Northern Adriatic food-web (Mediterranean Sea) elucidated by stable isotope ratios

The biomagnification of tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), and total butyltins (ΣBT) was analyzed in the Northern Adriatic food-web (Mediterranean) considering trophodynamic interactions among species and carbon sources in the food-web. Although it is acknowledged that these contaminants bioaccumulate in marine organisms, it is still controversial whether they biomagnify along food-webs. A wide range of species was considered, from plankton feeders to top predators, whose trophic level (TL) was assessed measuring the biological enrichment of nitrogen stable isotopes (δ(15)N). Carbon isotopic signature (δ(13)C) was used to trace carbon sources in the food-web (terrestrial vs marine). At least one butyltin species was detected in the majority of samples, and TBT was the predominant contaminant. A significant positive relationship was found between TL and butyltin concentrations, implying food-web biomagnification. Coherently, the Trophic Magnification Factor resulted higher than 1, ranging between 3.88 for ΣBT and 4.62 for DBT. A negative but not significant correlation was instead found between δ(13)C and butyltin concentrations, indicating a slight decreasing gradient of contaminants concentrations in species according to the coastal influence as carbon source in their diet. However, trophodynamic mechanisms are likely more important factors in determining butyltin distribution in the Northern Adriatic food-web.

Organotin compounds in seawater and Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels along the Croatian Adriatic Coast

In this work, data on the level of organotin compounds (OTCs) in seawater and mussels collected along the entire Croatian Adriatic Coast are presented. The samples were collected in 2009 and 2010 at 48 locations representing different levels of maritime activities, including marinas, ports and reference sites. Butyltins (BuTs) were found in all analyzed samples, representing >97% of OTCs, and ranged from 0.46 to 27.98 ng Sn L(-1) in seawater and from <6 to 1675 ng Sn g(-1) in mussels. The results indicate a recent input of TBT, with the highest concentrations of BuTs found in the marinas. It appears that the Adriatic coast is still polluted with TBT despite the fact that TBT-containing antifouling paints have been banned in Croatia since 2008. It is questionable how much TBT pollution decreased since 2005, when a high incidence of imposex was established in the same area.

Tributyltin inhibits the oligomycin-sensitive Mg-ATPase activity in Mytilus galloprovincialis digestive gland mitochondria

Tributyltin (TBT), widely employed in the past in antifouling paints, is one of the most toxic organic pollutants. Although recently banned, it still threatens coastal water ecosystems and accumulates in filter-feeding molluscs. TBT is known to act as a membrane-active toxicant; however data on mussels are scanty and exposure effects on mitochondrial ATPase activities remain hitherto unexplored. TBT effects on the mitochondrial Mg-ATPase activities in the digestive gland of Mytilus galloprovincialis were investigated both in vitro and in TBT-exposed mussels. Both an oligomycin-sensitive Mg-ATPase (OS Mg-ATPase) (70% of total Mg-ATPase activity) and an oligomycin-insensitive ATPase (OI Mg-ATPase) (30%) were found. The OS-Mg-ATPase was as much as 70% in vitro inhibited by 0.7 μM (203 μg/L) TBT, while higher concentrations promoted a partial inhibition release up to 5.0 μM TBT; higher than 10.0 μM TBT concentrations yielded nearly complete enzyme inhibition. Concentrations higher than 1 μM TBT enhanced the OI Mg-ATPase. Mussels exposed to 0.5 and 1.0 μg/L TBT in aquaria showed a 30% depressed OS Mg-ATPase activity, irrespective of TBT dose and exposure time (24 and 120 h). The OI Mg-ATPase activity was apparently refractory to TBT exposure and halved both in control and TBT-exposed mussels after 120 h exposure.

Time trend of butyl- and phenyl-tin contamination in organisms of the Lagoon of Venice (1999-2003)

In the period 1999-2003 a monitoring study on the accumulation of organotin compounds in edible organisms in the Lagoon of Venice was conducted. Butyl and Phenyl derivatives were determined in pooled samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Tapes spp. with the aims of assessing organotin contamination in the Lagoon of Venice in the period just preceding their ban in Europe, monitoring the concentrations in organisms with a high commercial use, evaluating a potential hazard for human health due to seafood and identifying the possible contamination sources. Sampling stations (up to 20) were distributed around the Lagoon and particularly concentrated in the area close to the town of Chioggia. Significantly higher (analysis of variance (ANOVA), p < 0.05) tributyltin (TBT) concentrations were found in mussels (from 38 +/- 8 to 6,666 +/- 1,333 microg kg(-1) d.w., as TBT(+)), than in clams (from 6 +/- 1 to 2,256 +/- 451 microg kg(-1) d.w., as TBT(+)). During the 3 years of the survey no increase in average concentrations of the butyltin compounds (tributyltin (TBT) + dibutyltin (DBT) + monobutyltin (MBT)) was observed (ANOVA, p > 0.05) in either species. Furthermore, by analyzing the entire data set, it is evident that most stations show analogous concentrations in the 3 years for both species, whereas few have anomalously higher concentrations. If organotin concentrations in specimens from some sites are compared with the Tolerable Average Residue Level, a possible risk for human health must be considered.

Organotins (TBT and DBT) in water, sediments, and gastropods of the southern Venice lagoon (Italy)

The release of tributyltin (TBT) from maritime traffic represents one of the main problems of direct, diffuse, and continued contamination of the marine environment. In the present survey, the concentrations of TBT and dibultytin (DBT) in brackish waters, sediments, and the gastropods Nassarius nitidus were evaluated in order to estimate the contamination of the southern part of the Venice lagoon. TBT and DBT were determined by GC-MS/MS. Recent contamination of TBT was found in brackish waters near marinas, whereas the highest concentrations of TBT and DBT were observed in surface sediments at dockyards and harbours. High content of organotin in the gastropods sampled near the dockyards, harbours, and marinas showed a mobilisation from the sediments through the food web. The present study allowed assessment of whether, despite the ban on the use of TBT paints, waters, sediments, and biota were still being contaminated by organotin compounds in the southern Venice lagoon.

Response to alkyltins of two Na+-dependent ATPase activities in Tapes philippinarum and Mytilus galloprovincialis

Organotin effects on the Na-dependent ATPases involved in ionic regulation of aquatic animals are poorly known, in spite of the largely documented contamination of seafood, especially bivalve molluscs. This study deals with the in vitro effect of TBT on the Na,K-ATPase and the ouabain-insensitive Na-ATPase in gill and mantle microsomes from the cultured bivalve molluscs Tapes philippinarum and Mytilus galloprovincialis. In the mussel also MBT, DBT and TeET were tested. While in both species the Na-ATPase showed an overall refractoriness to organotins, the Na,K-ATPase was progressively inhibited by increasing TBT concentrations (0-34 microM). In both species the Na,K-ATPase activity was more strongly inhibited in the gills than in the mantle. At the maximal TBT concentration tested (34.4 microM), while gill Na,K-ATPase activity was abolished, mantle enzyme activity was, respectively, reduced to 20% in T. philippinarum and to 50% in M. galloprovincialis. Mussel Na,K-ATPase was differently susceptive to the organotins tested and in both tissues showed an inhibition efficiency order TBT>DBT>>MBT=TeET (no effect), tentatively related to the different organotin polarity and to a possible interaction with membrane-bound enzyme complexes. The different response of the two ATPases to organotins is consistent with the known different susceptivity of the two enzyme activities to environmental contaminants, assay conditions and endogenous factors.