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The use of Nucella lapillus (L.) transplanted in cages to monitor tributyltin (TBT) pollution.
- Source :
-
The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2000 Mar 20; Vol. 247 (2-3), pp. 227-37. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Specimens of the gastropod Nucella lapillus were transplanted from their natural habitat to sites affected by tributyltin (TBT) pollution to diverse degrees; individuals were held in cages that also included mussels as food. Subsamples were taken from the cages and the natural site at different time intervals (1, 2 and 5 months) to compare growth, imposex (a set of sexual anomalies caused by TBT) and butyltin concentrations accumulated in female tissues. Individuals in cages experienced negligible mortality and considerable growth. In addition, while the Relative Penis Size Index (RPSI, an index of imposex) remained consistent in the natural site through the experiment, it increased markedly at the implant sites; the same applies to the butyltin residues. These results are discussed to conclude that cage transplanting of N. lapillus is a suitable technique that can quickly (i.e. 1 month) detect differences in the level of TBT contamination among sites; however, extrapolation of experimental results to the field seems to require a longer exposure time (at least 5 months). Finally, the use of such an approach is deemed helpful to interpret the relationship between N. lapillus population dynamics and TBT pollution.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Female
Genitalia drug effects
Genitalia pathology
Male
Population Dynamics
Snails growth & development
Snails metabolism
Spain
Trialkyltin Compounds pharmacokinetics
Water Pollutants, Chemical pharmacokinetics
Environmental Monitoring methods
Snails drug effects
Trialkyltin Compounds toxicity
Water Pollutants, Chemical toxicity
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0048-9697
- Volume :
- 247
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Science of the total environment
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10803550
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(00)00367-3