Chapter 21
Histopathological Alterations of the Mantle
of Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Ria of Vigo
(NW Spain): Effect of Persistent Chemicals?
Y. Ruiz, P. Su´ arez, Ana Alonso Martinez, A. Vidal, and F. San Juan
Introduction
In marine environments, coastal and estuarine areas are the main productive zones,
but also the most seriously affected by pollution impacts. These areas are characterized by a high biodiversity and variability in their environmental parameters as well
as receiving organic matter from urban, industrial, agricultural and forest effluents
and along with these also xenobiotics of diverse origin.
Galician R´ ıas (NW Spain) are estuaries with special hydrodynamic characteristics, which favour nutrient upwelling, allowing a high biological production. This
allows them to be important aquaculture areas, mainly mussel farming. However the
R´ ıas have undergone a rapid industrialization and an increase in population density,
simultaneously increasing their pollution levels.
Pollutants are quickly accumulated by biota and some of them, such as PAHs and
PCBs are highly persistent and toxic (Facchinelli et al. 2001; Perugini et al. 2004).
Several studies relate the appearance of neoplastic histopathological alterations in
bivalves with the presence of pollutants (Alonso et al. 2001; Thiriot-Qui´ evreux and
Wolowicz 2001; Smolarz et al. 2005; Wolowicz et al. 2005), suggesting a toxic
etiology for these pathologies.
Y. Ruiz () • P. Su´ arez • A. Vidal • F. San Juan
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
e-mail: yruiz@uvigo.es; psuarez@uvigo.es; adrianavidal@uvigo.es; fsanjuan@uvigo.es
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
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 21,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
239
Histopathological Alterations of the Mantle
of Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Ria of Vigo
(NW Spain): Effect of Persistent Chemicals?
Y. Ruiz, P. Su´ arez, Ana Alonso Martinez, A. Vidal, and F. San Juan
Introduction
In marine environments, coastal and estuarine areas are the main productive zones,
but also the most seriously affected by pollution impacts. These areas are characterized by a high biodiversity and variability in their environmental parameters as well
as receiving organic matter from urban, industrial, agricultural and forest effluents
and along with these also xenobiotics of diverse origin.
Galician R´ ıas (NW Spain) are estuaries with special hydrodynamic characteristics, which favour nutrient upwelling, allowing a high biological production. This
allows them to be important aquaculture areas, mainly mussel farming. However the
R´ ıas have undergone a rapid industrialization and an increase in population density,
simultaneously increasing their pollution levels.
Pollutants are quickly accumulated by biota and some of them, such as PAHs and
PCBs are highly persistent and toxic (Facchinelli et al. 2001; Perugini et al. 2004).
Several studies relate the appearance of neoplastic histopathological alterations in
bivalves with the presence of pollutants (Alonso et al. 2001; Thiriot-Qui´ evreux and
Wolowicz 2001; Smolarz et al. 2005; Wolowicz et al. 2005), suggesting a toxic
etiology for these pathologies.
Y. Ruiz () • P. Su´ arez • A. Vidal • F. San Juan
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
e-mail: yruiz@uvigo.es; psuarez@uvigo.es; adrianavidal@uvigo.es; fsanjuan@uvigo.es
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
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 21,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
239