Imposex in Thais rustica (Mollusca: Neogastropoda) (Lamark, 1822) as an indicator of organotin compounds pollution at Maceio coast (Northeastern Brazil)

Camillo, Edmundo; Quadros, Juliana; Castro, Ítalo Braga de; Fernandez, Marcos

Abstracts

The use of OTC (organotin compounds) as biocides in naval antifouling paints causes impacts on non-target organisms. One of these impacts is a syndrome called imposex in gastropod molluscs. Imposex is the imposition of male secondary sexual characteristics in female gastropods as result of endocrine disruption. In this preliminary study, imposex was observed in four out of ten sampled stations in Maceió: the city Port (100% females exhibited imposex), the Marine Emissary (23% females exhibited imposex), the Marine Terminal (35% females exhibited imposex) and Saco da Pedra beach (12% females exhibited imposex). These stations were distributed in a NE-SW orientation from the Port southwards along the coastline, following the general circulation pattern of the area. The low values of VDSI, RPSI and RPLI indicate that Maceió Coast is a less contaminated area, probably because of low shipping activities together with the fact that the sampling zone is an open coastal system and not an enclosed bay. These results suggest that the imposex development in Thais rustica may be used as a biological indicator of OTC pollution.

Imposex; Organotin compounds; Pollution; Thais rustica; Maceio

O uso de COE (compostos orgânicos de estanho) como biocida em tintas antiincrustantes para embarcações causa impactos em organismos não-alvos. Um destes impactos é a síndrome chamada imposex, em moluscos gastrópodos. Imposex é a imposição de caracteres sexuais secundários masculinos em fêmeas de gastrópodos como resultado de desregulação endócrina. Neste estudo preliminar, o imposex foi observado em quatro de dez estações de amostragem em Maceió: o Porto de Maceió (100% de fêmeas imposexadas), o Emissário Submarino (23% de fêmeas imposexadas), o Terminal Marítimo (35% de fêmeas imposexadas) e a praia do Saco da Pedra (12% de fêmeas imposexadas). Estas estações estão distribuídas no litoral no sentido NE/SW a partir do Porto, seguindo o padrão de circulação local. Os valores relativamente baixos dos índices VDSI, RPSI e RPLI indicam que a costa de Maceió é uma área moderadamente impactada. Isto poderia ser explicado pelo fato da costa não ser um sistema abrigado e pelo pequeno movimento de sua zona portuária. Estes resultados sugerem que o desenvolvimento do imposex em Thais rustica pode ser usado como indicador da poluição por COEs.

Imposex; Compostos organoestânicos; Poluição; Thais rustica; Maceió

Alzieu, C.; Sanjuan, J.; Delteil, J. P. & Borel, M. 1986. Tin Contamination in Arcachon Bay: effects on oyster shell anomalies. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 17(11):494-498.
Bech, M. 1998. Imposex and population characteristics of Thais distinguenda as an indicator of organotin contamination along the South East Coast of Phuket Island, Thailand, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Special publication,18(1):129-138.
Castro, I. B.; Cascon, H. M. & Fernandez, M. A. 2000. Imposex in Thais haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (Mollusca:Gastropoda), an indication of organotin contamination in Fortaleza municipality coast - Ceará - Brazil. Arq. Ciênc. Mar., 33:51-56.
Castro, I. B.; Meirelles, C. A. O.; Matthews-Cascon, H. & Fernandez, M. A. 2003. Thais (Stramonita) rustica (Lamarck, 1822) (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA: THAIDIDAE), bioindicator of contamination by organotin compounds in the coast of Natal city, Rio Grande do Norte state in northeast of Brasil. Braz. J. Oceanogr., 52(2):43-47.
Fernandez, M. A.; Terra, A. C. M. A. & Limaverde, A. M. 2000. Tributyltin and the marine environment: the problem of the use of TBT as biocide in Brazil. Maritime Review, 8(2):52-59.
Fernandez. M. A.; Limaverde, A. M.; Castro, I. B.;Terra, A. C. & Wagener, A. de L.. 2002. Occurrence of imposex in Thais haemastoma: evidences of environmental contamination derived from organotin compounds in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil. Publ., Hlth. Rep., 18(2):463-476.
Fioroni, P.; Oehlmann, J. & Stroben, E. 1991. The pseudohermaphoditism os prosobanchs; morfological aspects. Zoollogischer Anz., 286:1-26.
Gibbs, P. E. & Bryan, G. W. 1994. Biomonitoring of Tributyltin pollution using the imposex response of Neogastropod Molluscs. In: Kees, J. M. & Kramer eds Biomonitoring of Coastal Waters and Estuaries. Boca Ratón, CRC Press Inc. p. 205-226.
Gibbs, P. E. & Bryan, G. W. 1987. TBT paints and the demise of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus (Gastropoda). Oceans, 4:1482-1487.
Hoch, M. 2001. Organotin compounds in the environment - an Overview. Appl. Geochem., 16:719-743.
Horiguchi, T.; Shiraishi, H.; Shimizu, M. & Morita, M. 1994. Imposex and organotin compounds in Thais clavigera e T. bronni in Japan. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 74:651-669.
Hung, T. C.; Hsu, W. K.; Mang, P. J.; Chuang, A. 2001. Organotins and imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, from oyster mariculture ares in Taiwan. Environ. Pollut. 112:145- 152.
Lau Wong, M. M. 1991. Tributyltin antifoulings: a threater to the Hong Kong marine environment. Archs. environ. Contamin. Toxicol., 20:299-304.
MACEIÓ. Companhia Docas. Maceió Port Administration. Statistical Bulletin-2001: base year 2001. Maceió, 2001. 1 disk 3½
Mensink, B. P.; Van Hattum, B.; Ten Hallers-Tjabbes, C. C.; Everaarts, J. M.; Kralt, H.; Vethaak, A. D. & Boon, J. P. 1997. Tributyltin causes imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum - mechanism and occurrence. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Netherlands.
Minchin, A. & Minchin, D. 1997. Dispersal of tbt from a fishing port determined using the dogwhelk nucella lapillus as an indicator. Environ. Sci. Technol., 18:1225-1234.
Minchin, A. & Davies, I. M. 1999. Effect of freezing on the length of the penis in Nucella lapillus J. environ. Monit., 1:203-205.
Nias, D. J.; Mckillup, S. C. & Edyvane, K. S. 1993. Imposex in Lepsiella vinosa From Southern Australia. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 26(7):380-384.
Penchaszadeh, P. E.; Averbuj, A. & Cledón, M. 2001. Imposex in Gastropods from Argentina (South-Western Atlantic). Mar. Pollut. Bull., 42(9):790-791.
Rilov, G.; Gasith, A.; Evans, S. M. & Benayahu, Y. 2002. Unregulated use of TBT-based antifouling paints in Israel (Estern Mediterranean): High contamination an imposex levels in two species of marine Gastropods. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 192: 229-238.
Smith, B. S. 1971. Sexuality in American Mud Snail, Nassarius obsoletus. Proc. Malacol. Soc. Lond., 39:377-378.
Smith, B. S. 1981. Tributyltin compounds induced male characteristics on female Mud Snails (Nassarius obsoletus=Ilyanassa obsoleta). J. appl. Toxicol., 1(3):141-144.
Spence, S. K.; Hawkins, S. J. & Santos, R. S. 1990.The mollusc Thais haemastoma - an exhibitor of imposex and potential biological indicator of tributyltin pollution. Mar. Ecol., 11:147-156.
Stroben, E.; Schulte-Oehlmann, U.; Fioroni, P. & Oehlmann, J. 1995. A c omparative method for easy assessment of coastal TBT pollution by the degree of imposex in prosobranch species. Haliotis, 24:1-12.
Tan, K. S. 1999. Imposex in Thais gradata and Chicoreus capucinus (Mollusca, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) from the straits of Johor: a case study using penis length, area and weight as measures of imposex severity. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 39(1-12):295-303.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
26 Jan 2009
Date of issue
June 2004

History

Accepted
23 Apr 2004
Reviewed
27 Nov 2003
Received
06 May 2003

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] Alzieu, C.; Sanjuan, J.; Delteil, J. P. & Borel, M. 1986. Tin Contamination in Arcachon Bay: effects on oyster shell anomalies. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 17(11):494-498.

[2] Bech, M. 1998. Imposex and population characteristics of Thais distinguenda as an indicator of organotin contamination along the South East Coast of Phuket Island, Thailand, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Special publication,18(1):129-138.

[3] Castro, I. B.; Cascon, H. M. & Fernandez, M. A. 2000. Imposex in Thais haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (Mollusca:Gastropoda), an indication of organotin contamination in Fortaleza municipality coast - Ceará - Brazil. Arq. Ciênc. Mar., 33:51-56.

[4] Castro, I. B.; Meirelles, C. A. O.; Matthews-Cascon, H. & Fernandez, M. A. 2003. Thais (Stramonita) rustica (Lamarck, 1822) (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA: THAIDIDAE), bioindicator of contamination by organotin compounds in the coast of Natal city, Rio Grande do Norte state in northeast of Brasil. Braz. J. Oceanogr., 52(2):43-47.

[5] Fernandez, M. A.; Terra, A. C. M. A. & Limaverde, A. M. 2000. Tributyltin and the marine environment: the problem of the use of TBT as biocide in Brazil. Maritime Review, 8(2):52-59.

[6] Fernandez. M. A.; Limaverde, A. M.; Castro, I. B.;Terra, A. C. & Wagener, A. de L.. 2002. Occurrence of imposex in Thais haemastoma: evidences of environmental contamination derived from organotin compounds in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil. Publ., Hlth. Rep., 18(2):463-476.

[7] Fioroni, P.; Oehlmann, J. & Stroben, E. 1991. The pseudohermaphoditism os prosobanchs; morfological aspects. Zoollogischer Anz., 286:1-26.

[8] Gibbs, P. E. & Bryan, G. W. 1994. Biomonitoring of Tributyltin pollution using the imposex response of Neogastropod Molluscs. In: Kees, J. M. & Kramer eds Biomonitoring of Coastal Waters and Estuaries. Boca Ratón, CRC Press Inc. p. 205-226.

[9] Gibbs, P. E. & Bryan, G. W. 1987. TBT paints and the demise of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus (Gastropoda). Oceans, 4:1482-1487.

[10] Hoch, M. 2001. Organotin compounds in the environment - an Overview. Appl. Geochem., 16:719-743.

[11] Horiguchi, T.; Shiraishi, H.; Shimizu, M. & Morita, M. 1994. Imposex and organotin compounds in Thais clavigera e T. bronni in Japan. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 74:651-669.

[12] Hung, T. C.; Hsu, W. K.; Mang, P. J.; Chuang, A. 2001. Organotins and imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, from oyster mariculture ares in Taiwan. Environ. Pollut. 112:145- 152.

[13] Lau Wong, M. M. 1991. Tributyltin antifoulings: a threater to the Hong Kong marine environment. Archs. environ. Contamin. Toxicol., 20:299-304.

[14] MACEIÓ. Companhia Docas. Maceió Port Administration. Statistical Bulletin-2001: base year 2001. Maceió, 2001. 1 disk 3½

[15] Mensink, B. P.; Van Hattum, B.; Ten Hallers-Tjabbes, C. C.; Everaarts, J. M.; Kralt, H.; Vethaak, A. D. & Boon, J. P. 1997. Tributyltin causes imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum - mechanism and occurrence. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Netherlands.

[16] Minchin, A. & Minchin, D. 1997. Dispersal of tbt from a fishing port determined using the dogwhelk nucella lapillus as an indicator. Environ. Sci. Technol., 18:1225-1234.

[17] Minchin, A. & Davies, I. M. 1999. Effect of freezing on the length of the penis in Nucella lapillus J. environ. Monit., 1:203-205.

[18] Nias, D. J.; Mckillup, S. C. & Edyvane, K. S. 1993. Imposex in Lepsiella vinosa From Southern Australia. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 26(7):380-384.

[19] Penchaszadeh, P. E.; Averbuj, A. & Cledón, M. 2001. Imposex in Gastropods from Argentina (South-Western Atlantic). Mar. Pollut. Bull., 42(9):790-791.

[20] Rilov, G.; Gasith, A.; Evans, S. M. & Benayahu, Y. 2002. Unregulated use of TBT-based antifouling paints in Israel (Estern Mediterranean): High contamination an imposex levels in two species of marine Gastropods. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 192: 229-238.

[21] Smith, B. S. 1971. Sexuality in American Mud Snail, Nassarius obsoletus. Proc. Malacol. Soc. Lond., 39:377-378.

[22] Smith, B. S. 1981. Tributyltin compounds induced male characteristics on female Mud Snails (Nassarius obsoletus=Ilyanassa obsoleta). J. appl. Toxicol., 1(3):141-144.

[23] Spence, S. K.; Hawkins, S. J. & Santos, R. S. 1990.The mollusc Thais haemastoma - an exhibitor of imposex and potential biological indicator of tributyltin pollution. Mar. Ecol., 11:147-156.

[24] Stroben, E.; Schulte-Oehlmann, U.; Fioroni, P. & Oehlmann, J. 1995. A c omparative method for easy assessment of coastal TBT pollution by the degree of imposex in prosobranch species. Haliotis, 24:1-12.

[25] Tan, K. S. 1999. Imposex in Thais gradata and Chicoreus capucinus (Mollusca, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) from the straits of Johor: a case study using penis length, area and weight as measures of imposex severity. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 39(1-12):295-303.

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Imposex in Thais rustica (Mollusca: Neogastropoda) (Lamark, 1822) as an indicator of organotin compounds pollution at Maceio coast (Northeastern Brazil)

Abstracts

Publication Dates

History