The assessment of environmental pollution along the coast of Beibu Gulf, northern South China Sea: An integrated biomarker approach in the clam Meretrix meretrix

The clam Meretrix meretrix was used as a biomonitor to implement an environmental monitoring program along the coast of Beibu Gulf in October 2011. This program not only analyzed biomarkers including acetylcholinesterase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, total glutathione content and lipid peroxidation level in M. meretrix but also adopted a multi-biomarker approach – integrated biomarker response (IBR) to assess the environmental quality in this ecosystem. In addition, the metal (Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) content in the surface sediment at the study area were also measured. The results showed that IBR index was able to distinguish a space trend between sampling sites with different degrees of anthropogenic environmental stress. Integrated contamination degree were displayed in the form of star plots and compared to IBR plots. There was a visual consistency between the pollution level and IBR variation. Based on the results, it was proved that the IBR method coupled with chemical analysis was quite useful for the assessment of environmental pollution in the coastal system.

► We assessed the environmental pollution along the coast of Beibu Gulf.
► We adopted a multi-biomarker approach – integrated biomarker response (IBR).
► Meretrix meretrix was proved to be a good candidate for environmental monitoring.
► We validated the usefulness of IBR method coupled with chemical analysis.