| Title | Contamination levels and spatial distribution in the lagoons of the Po river delta: Are chemicals exerting toxic effects? |
| Abstract | Composite sediment samples were collected from 18 deposition areas located in seven lagoons of the Po Delta. Samples were analysed for contents of legacy (DDT, PCB) and priority organic pollutants (AP, PBDE), and the sediments showed, with some exceptions, low/moderate levels of contamination. It seemed evident that the Po River has a clear role in controlling the input and distribution of chemicals to the lagoons, generally resulting in an overall north-south pattern of increasing contamination, as well as some contaminant contents exceeding quality guidelines or threshold values (NP, PBDE, PCB). Interestingly, more negative ?C values were observed in the lagoons exposed to freshwater inflows, with higher concentrations of DDTs in their sediments. Regarding potential toxic effects, different sex ratios were observed in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) previously exposed for 3 months to six lagoons of the Po Delta, and these ratios ranged from a marked male to female prevalence. Notably, the male clam percentage was inversely correlated with sedimentary PCB and partially correlated with PBDE, bioaccumulated PCB, PBDE and to a lesser extent APs and DDTs. A delay in gonad development was also present in the clams most exposed to sedimentary APs and in general to inland waters. For the first time, this study evidenced endocrine disruption in Manila clams exposed to the Po Delta lagoons that was apparently the result of exposure to major contaminant classes. These ecotoxicological results need to be further investigated, in light of the many other endocrine disrupters recently identified in Po lagoons. |
| Source | Estuarine, coastal and shelf science (Print) 231, pp. 106466–106467 |
| Keywords | Clam sex ratioEndocrine disruptionLagoon sedimentLegacy chemicalsPriority compounds |
| Journal | Estuarine, coastal and shelf science (Print) |
| Editor | Academic Press in association with the Estuarine and Brackish-water Sciences Association,, New York, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2019 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106467 |
| Authors | Viganò, Luigi; Stefani, Fabrizio; Casatta, Nadia; Mascolo, Giuseppe; Murgolo, Sapia; Roscioli, Claudio; Zonta, Roberto |
| Text | 414398 2019 10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106467 Scopus 2 s2.0 85073760743 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000503085500006 Clam sex ratio Endocrine disruption Lagoon sediment Legacy chemicals Priority compounds Contamination levels and spatial distribution in the lagoons of the Po river delta Are chemicals exerting toxic effects Vigano, Luigi; Stefani, Fabrizio; Casatta, Nadia; Mascolo, Giuseppe; Murgolo, Sapia; Roscioli, Claudio; Zonta, Roberto Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Bari; Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Composite sediment samples were collected from 18 deposition areas located in seven lagoons of the Po Delta. Samples were analysed for contents of legacy DDT, PCB and priority organic pollutants AP, PBDE , and the sediments showed, with some exceptions, low/moderate levels of contamination. It seemed evident that the Po River has a clear role in controlling the input and distribution of chemicals to the lagoons, generally resulting in an overall north south pattern of increasing contamination, as well as some contaminant contents exceeding quality guidelines or threshold values NP, PBDE, PCB . Interestingly, more negative C values were observed in the lagoons exposed to freshwater inflows, with higher concentrations of DDTs in their sediments. Regarding potential toxic effects, different sex ratios were observed in Manila clams Ruditapes philippinarum previously exposed for 3 months to six lagoons of the Po Delta, and these ratios ranged from a marked male to female prevalence. Notably, the male clam percentage was inversely correlated with sedimentary PCB and partially correlated with PBDE, bioaccumulated PCB, PBDE and to a lesser extent APs and DDTs. A delay in gonad development was also present in the clams most exposed to sedimentary APs and in general to inland waters. For the first time, this study evidenced endocrine disruption in Manila clams exposed to the Po Delta lagoons that was apparently the result of exposure to major contaminant classes. These ecotoxicological results need to be further investigated, in light of the many other endocrine disrupters recently identified in Po lagoons. 231 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85073760743 origin=inward Contamination levels and spatial distribution in the lagoons of the Po river delta Are chemicals exerting toxic effects file articolo in formato pdf Vigano et al 2019 Delta disruption Published.pdf Articolo in rivista Academic Press in association with the Estuarine and Brackish water Sciences Association, 0272 7714 Estuarine, coastal and shelf science Print Estuarine, coastal and shelf science Print Estuar., coast. shelf sci. Print Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Print CASATTA NADIA sapia.murgolo MURGOLO SAPIA claudiogiovanni.roscioli ROSCIOLI CLAUDIO GIOVANNI fabrizio.stefani STEFANI FABRIZIO luigi.vigano VIGANO LUIGI roberto.zonta ZONTA ROBERTO giuseppe.mascolo MASCOLO GIUSEPPE |
