236
A.A. Martinez et al.
this tar mixture for cleaning the culture mussels rafts, should be replaced by a less
toxic chemical in order to ensure continued production and sustainability of mussel
farms, as well as to produce a cultured mussel which is safe for human consumption.
Conclusions
The exposure of mussels to PAHs in a tar mixture used for cleaning purposes, causes
histopathological effects, possibly due to endocrine disruption, which lead to the
maturation arrest of germinal cells and to the development of germinal carcinoma,
which could decrease fertility and reproductive capacity of cultured mussels.
Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Antonio Antepazos and the fishermen of the
“Antepazos I”, who kindly provided the mussels used in this work. We also thank the Spanish Institute of Oceanography who completed the chemical analysis of the tar used in this project. This work
was supported by a grant from Autonomous Galician Government (PGIDT10MDS312030PR).
References
Aarab N, Godal B, Bechmann R (2011) Seasonal variation of histopathological and histochemical
markers of PAH exposure in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.). Mar Environ Res 71:213–217
Alonso A, Su´ arez P, ´
Alvarez C, San Juan F, Molist P (2001) Structural study of a possible neoplasia
detected in Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the Ria of Vigo (NW Spain). Dis Aquat
Organ 47:73–79
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (1995) Toxicological profile for
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Atlanta
Au DWT (2004) The application of histo-cytopathological biomarkers in marine pollution
monitoring: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 48:817–834
Boekelheide K (2005) Mechanisms of toxic damage to spermatogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr
34:1–3
Bostr¨ om C, Gerde P, Hanberg A, Jernstr¨ om B, Johansson C, Kyrklund T, Rannug A, T¨ ornqvist
M, Victorin K, Westerholm R (2002) Cancer risk assessment, indicators, and guidelines for
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air. Environ Health Perspect 110(Suppl 3):
451–488
Cajaraville MP (1991) Efectos histopatol´ ogicos y citot´ oxicos de los hidrocarburos derivados del
petr´ oleo, y su cuantificaci´ on en el mejill´ on Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lmk.). Thesis doctoral,
Universidad del Pa´ ıs Vasco, Espa˜ na
Cajaraville MP, Marig´ omez JA, Angulo E (1992) Comparative effects of the water accommodated
fraction of three oils on mussels – 1. Survival, growth and gonad development. Comp Biochem
Physiol C Comp Pharmacol 102:103–112
Chapin RE, Ross MD, Lamb JC (1984) Immersion fixation methods for glicol methacrylateembedded testes. Toxicol Pathol 12:221–227
Dieckmann KP, Skakkebaek NE (1999) Carcinoma in situ of the testis: review of biological and
clinical features. Int J Cancer 83:815–822
Elston RA, Moore JD, Brooks K (1992) Disseminated neoplasia of bivalve molluscs. Rev Aquat
Sci 6:405–466
A.A. Martinez et al.
this tar mixture for cleaning the culture mussels rafts, should be replaced by a less
toxic chemical in order to ensure continued production and sustainability of mussel
farms, as well as to produce a cultured mussel which is safe for human consumption.
Conclusions
The exposure of mussels to PAHs in a tar mixture used for cleaning purposes, causes
histopathological effects, possibly due to endocrine disruption, which lead to the
maturation arrest of germinal cells and to the development of germinal carcinoma,
which could decrease fertility and reproductive capacity of cultured mussels.
Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Antonio Antepazos and the fishermen of the
“Antepazos I”, who kindly provided the mussels used in this work. We also thank the Spanish Institute of Oceanography who completed the chemical analysis of the tar used in this project. This work
was supported by a grant from Autonomous Galician Government (PGIDT10MDS312030PR).
References
Aarab N, Godal B, Bechmann R (2011) Seasonal variation of histopathological and histochemical
markers of PAH exposure in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.). Mar Environ Res 71:213–217
Alonso A, Su´ arez P, ´
Alvarez C, San Juan F, Molist P (2001) Structural study of a possible neoplasia
detected in Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the Ria of Vigo (NW Spain). Dis Aquat
Organ 47:73–79
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (1995) Toxicological profile for
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Atlanta
Au DWT (2004) The application of histo-cytopathological biomarkers in marine pollution
monitoring: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 48:817–834
Boekelheide K (2005) Mechanisms of toxic damage to spermatogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr
34:1–3
Bostr¨ om C, Gerde P, Hanberg A, Jernstr¨ om B, Johansson C, Kyrklund T, Rannug A, T¨ ornqvist
M, Victorin K, Westerholm R (2002) Cancer risk assessment, indicators, and guidelines for
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air. Environ Health Perspect 110(Suppl 3):
451–488
Cajaraville MP (1991) Efectos histopatol´ ogicos y citot´ oxicos de los hidrocarburos derivados del
petr´ oleo, y su cuantificaci´ on en el mejill´ on Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lmk.). Thesis doctoral,
Universidad del Pa´ ıs Vasco, Espa˜ na
Cajaraville MP, Marig´ omez JA, Angulo E (1992) Comparative effects of the water accommodated
fraction of three oils on mussels – 1. Survival, growth and gonad development. Comp Biochem
Physiol C Comp Pharmacol 102:103–112
Chapin RE, Ross MD, Lamb JC (1984) Immersion fixation methods for glicol methacrylateembedded testes. Toxicol Pathol 12:221–227
Dieckmann KP, Skakkebaek NE (1999) Carcinoma in situ of the testis: review of biological and
clinical features. Int J Cancer 83:815–822
Elston RA, Moore JD, Brooks K (1992) Disseminated neoplasia of bivalve molluscs. Rev Aquat
Sci 6:405–466