Chapter 20
In Vitro Toxicity and Histopathological Effects
Induced in the Mantle Tissue of Males of Mytilus
galloprovincialis During Short-Term Exposure
to a Tar Mixture
Ana Alonso Martinez, P. Su´ arez, Y. Ruiz, A. Vidal, and F. San Juan
Introduction
Despite international legislation, environmental pollution has increased, mainly
in coastal and estuarine areas, due to increases in population density, industrialization, ship traffic, port activities, fishing, and tourism in these areas (Srogi
2007). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be amongst the
most ubiquitous marine pollutants. Marine organisms acquire these compounds by
ingestion and diffusion across the epithelium, and then accumulate them due to their
lipophilic nature.
The acute and chronic toxicity of PAHs presents a risk for organisms, as some
chemical species and their intermediate biotransformation products are highly toxic,
mutagenic and carcinogenic. Because of this, PAHs are under constant investigation
and review by international organizations (IARC 1983, 1996; ATSDR 1995; WHO
1998; Bostr¨ om et al. 2002; EPA 2010). The toxic effects of these pollutants, as
well as its toxic mechanism are well understood in vertebrates, but fewer studies
have been conducted in invertebrates. However, although much remains to be
discovered about biotransformation and toxic action of PAHs in invertebrates, the
toxic mechanism seems to follow those of vertebrates.
Several neoplastic diseases as well as endocrine and metabolic disruptions have
been described among the main toxic effects of PAHs. These pathologies are related
with mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of hydrocarbons and their capacity to bind
estrogen receptors and to induce P450-dependent enzymes, leading to reproductive
A.A. Martinez ()
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende s/n., 36310 Vigo, Spain
e-mail: amam@uvigo.es
P. Su´ arez • Y. Ruiz • A. Vidal • F. San Juan
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
e-mail: psuarez@uvigo.es; yruiz@uvigo.es; adrianavidal@uvigo.es; fsanjuan@uvigo.es
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 20,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
229
In Vitro Toxicity and Histopathological Effects
Induced in the Mantle Tissue of Males of Mytilus
galloprovincialis During Short-Term Exposure
to a Tar Mixture
Ana Alonso Martinez, P. Su´ arez, Y. Ruiz, A. Vidal, and F. San Juan
Introduction
Despite international legislation, environmental pollution has increased, mainly
in coastal and estuarine areas, due to increases in population density, industrialization, ship traffic, port activities, fishing, and tourism in these areas (Srogi
2007). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be amongst the
most ubiquitous marine pollutants. Marine organisms acquire these compounds by
ingestion and diffusion across the epithelium, and then accumulate them due to their
lipophilic nature.
The acute and chronic toxicity of PAHs presents a risk for organisms, as some
chemical species and their intermediate biotransformation products are highly toxic,
mutagenic and carcinogenic. Because of this, PAHs are under constant investigation
and review by international organizations (IARC 1983, 1996; ATSDR 1995; WHO
1998; Bostr¨ om et al. 2002; EPA 2010). The toxic effects of these pollutants, as
well as its toxic mechanism are well understood in vertebrates, but fewer studies
have been conducted in invertebrates. However, although much remains to be
discovered about biotransformation and toxic action of PAHs in invertebrates, the
toxic mechanism seems to follow those of vertebrates.
Several neoplastic diseases as well as endocrine and metabolic disruptions have
been described among the main toxic effects of PAHs. These pathologies are related
with mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of hydrocarbons and their capacity to bind
estrogen receptors and to induce P450-dependent enzymes, leading to reproductive
A.A. Martinez ()
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende s/n., 36310 Vigo, Spain
e-mail: amam@uvigo.es
P. Su´ arez • Y. Ruiz • A. Vidal • F. San Juan
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
e-mail: psuarez@uvigo.es; yruiz@uvigo.es; adrianavidal@uvigo.es; fsanjuan@uvigo.es
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 20,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
229