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The crustacean Parapenaeus longirostris as pollution sentinel in an impacted area of the NW Mediterranean Sea
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Scientists tested shrimp from three Mediterranean fishing areas with different pollution levels and found that shrimp from more polluted waters showed clear signs of chemical stress, including higher levels of stress-related enzymes and traces of flame-retardant chemicals (called OPEs) that are common in plastics. Since these shrimp are commonly eaten seafood, this research matters because it suggests they can act as an early-warning system for pollution—and it raises questions about what chemicals might be making their way from polluted waters into our food.
In the context of marine pollution monitoring, this study evaluates the suitability of the deep-water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris , as a sentinel species within the framework of Descriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), using an impacted region of the NW Mediterranean Sea as a case study. Shrimps were sampled by trawling from the fishing ports subject to different degrees of anthropogenic pressure (i.e Palamós, Barcelona and La Ràpita). Relevant tissues were selected for the measurement of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterases (CEs), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and N-acetyl-β- D -glucosaminidase (NAGase). In parallel, an exploratory screening for one of the most abundant plastic additives found in the marine environment, organophosphate ester (OPEs) flame retardants and plasticizers, was performed. On one hand, our results showed, that the activities of GST, GPX and CEs were higher in central (Barcelona) and southern (La Ràpita) sites, areas considered chronically exposed to higher pollution loads. Shrimps from La Ràpita displayed the highest amount of oxidative stress damage. On the other hand, the presence of certain OPEs in shrimp muscle was confirmed in the three sites. Interestingly, specimens from La Ràpita showed a higher diversity of OPEs, and the highest concentration of the chlorinated-OPE TCIPP (1.7 ng/g d.w.). Overall, the variations in biomarker activities observed across sites support both the sensitivity of these parameters to chemical pollution and the potential of this species as sentinel, highlighting the importance of integrating crustaceans in biomonitoring programs.
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Researchers monitored microplastic contamination in deep-sea crustaceans from the Mediterranean Sea, including Aristeus antennatus and Nephrops norvegicus, to assess plastic pollution in commercial fishing species. Both species were found to contain microplastics, indicating contamination reaches deep-water habitats used by commercially exploited stocks.
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This study continued monitoring microplastic contamination in deep-sea Mediterranean crustaceans including Aristeus antennatus and Nephrops norvegicus, assessing these commercially important species as indicators of plastic pollution in deep-water ecosystems. Both crustacean species consistently contained microplastics, confirming contamination persists across monitoring periods.
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