Biochemical and genotoxic biomarkers in the Mediterranean crab Carcinus aestuarii experimentally exposed to polychlorobiphenyls, benzopyrene and methyl-mercury

The aim of this study was to test a multi-trial biomarker approach for evaluating toxicological risk due to the main contaminants in the Mediterranean, using the Mediterranean crab Carcinus aestuarii as bioindicator organism. Forty crabs were injected with different doses of the following contaminants: benzopyrene, polychlorobiphenyls and methyl-mercury. Several molecular, biochemical and genotoxic biomarkers were tested in different tissues and excreta. The main conclusions of this preliminary study can be summarized as follows: (1) midgut-gland, haemolymph and excreta seem to be useful for biomarker studies in this species; (2) several biochemical, molecular and genotoxic biomarkers were found suitable for testing in certain tissues; and (3) several biomarkers were found suitable for evaluating chemical stress due to Mediterranean contaminants.