Canada
Research Article
Immunotoxicity of Municipal Effluents to Freshwater Mussels
Author(s): Gagné F, André C, Cejka P, Hausler R and Fournier MGagné F, André C, Cejka P, Hausler R and Fournier M
The release of treated municipal wastewaters to the aquatic environment raises concern about the health impacts on local resident invertebrates such as mussels. The purpose of this study was to examine the immunotoxicity of two types of treated municipal effluents—physico-chemical treated and physico-chemical with additional ozonation—to freshwater mussels. Immunocompetence was followed by tracking changes in hemocyte viability, adherence, phagocytosis, vitellogenin (Vtg)-like proteins and the pro-inflammatory precursors nitric oxide (NOx) production and arachidonate cyclo-oxygenase (COX) activity. The study results revealed that following a two-week continuous-flow exposure to the effluents, a reduction in hemocyte viability, adherence, NOx and COX activities was observed. Vtg like proteins were also increased, highlighting the estrogenic nature of the effluents. A signif.. Read More»
DOI:
10.4172/2161-0525.1000104
Environmental & Analytical Toxicology received 6818 citations as per Google Scholar report