engleski

Assessment of metal exposure of marine edible mussels with metallothionein

Inducible metal binding protein, i.e. metallothionein (MT) has been considered as an biomarker of metal exposure in indigenous mussels, M. galloprovincialis. These sessile and filter-feeding organisms are used to monitor coastal seawater on metal pollution (1). For this study the mussels were collected in the vicinity of the industrial and urban center of Dalmatia, Croatia. The distribution of cadmium, mercury, lead, copper and zinc as well as MT has been determined in different mussel tissues (total edible part, gills and the digestive gland). The MT has been isolated from the cytosolic fraction by the selected method (2) and purified by the thermal treatment. For the analysis of metal and MT content spectrophotometric (GFAAS and cold vapor) and electrochemical methods have been applied. The results will be discussed relating metal and MT levels and regarding the basal and exposed levels of MT in mussels, in order to assess their exposure. Some recommendation for monitoring purposes will be given. 1. ThP O, Connor and B Beliaeff, NOAA, Silver Spring MD, 1995. 2. J Pavičić, B Raspor and D Martinčić, Mar.Biol. 115(1993)435-444.

metal; metallothionein levels in mussel tissue

nije evidentirano