Activity of antioxidant enzymes in Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to tar: Integrated response of different organs as pollution biomarker in aquaculture areas

This paper analyses the antioxidant enzymes response of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to a tar mixture during laboratory assay. These mixtures are generally used in cleaning and waterproofing wooden rafts mussel culture, characterized by their high content PAHs transition metals. The punctual spillage these around could cause stress, affecting culture sustainability product quality for human consumption. analysis kinetic parameters specific activity analysed revealed important tissue differences, which can be summarized as affinity reactive species gills, efficiency digestive gland mantle tissue. Furthermore, variance demonstrates dose- time-dependent most exposure, well influence dose-time interaction. Antioxidative metabolism gills constitutes an early against pollution-stimulated ROS production is mainly mediated SOD CAT activities. While defence carried out peroxidases glyoxalases. results suggest necessity taking into account integrated different organs from bioindicator toxicological studies. Multivariate all data obtained corroborates tissular highlights activities GST Se-GPX mussels suitable biomarkers pollution. In natural environment, relationship enzyme activities, independently seasonal or physiologic variation, discriminates between Pb concentrations accumulated mussels, validating utility assessment aquaculture areas quality. Capsule: Antioxidant tar. • tars was analysed. Gills, show response. Gills production. Digestive dose time dependent delayed (gill), (digestive gland) (mantle) more sensitive biomarkers.