First toxicity assays of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) on the freshwater clam Pisidium chiquitanum.

NERINA B. LANA; EDUARDO KOCH; JORGELINA C. ALTAMIRANO; NÉSTOR F. CIOCCO

Potrero de Funes San luis

Congreso; XXX Reunión Científica de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2012

Sociedad Biológica de Cuyo

First toxicity assays of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) on the freshwater clam Pisidium chiquitanum Lana, N(1,3), Koch E(2,3), Altamirano, J(1,3), Ciocco, N(2,3). (1): IANIGLA, CONICET; (2): IADIZA, CONICET; (3): ICB, UNCUYO; nciocco@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar PBDEs are used as flame retardants in commercial plastics. They are persistent organic pollutants with harmful effects on human health and environment. They can be found in sediments and biota of different trophic levels. It is known that bivalves can incorporate PBDEs and endure their toxic effects, which makes them potential bioindicators. The goal was to explore P. chiquitanum?s sensitivity to the congener BDE-209 in water and sediments. Clams were collected from the Uspallata stream (Mendoza) and kept in aerated aquaria without food (temperature 23 ± 2ºC; artificial light: 12 hr/day). Assays were conducted following the 203 OECD protocol. To explore sediment toxicity clams were exposed to three BDE-209 concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 ng g-1), one solvent blank and one control (8 clams, 15g substrate and 30ml chlorine free water/aquaria). To evaluate water toxicity clams were exposed to three concentrations (12.5, 125 and 1250 ng ml-1), one solvent blank and one control (8 clams, no substrate and 500 ml chlorine free water/aquaria). Live/dead clam records were taken at days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 36 for both assays. No diseased clams were recorded in the blank, control or treated group for all concentrations tested at both assays, though water and sediments are potential paths of BDE-209 uptake for P. chiquitanum. These preliminary results suggest that the clam is resistant to exposure to the congener and unsuited as bioindicator.