Biochemical responses in mussels Perna perna exposed to diesel B5

In Brazil B5 blend (5% biodiesel and 95% diesel oil) has been adopted as mandatory fuel since 2010 for automotive vehicles. Since little is known about the effects of B5 exposure can promote on antioxidant system of marine biota this study aimed to assess if B5 can generate modifications in antioxidant parameters of mussels Perna perna. To address this question mussels were exposed to two concentrations of B5 (0.01 mL L−1 and 0.1 mL L−1) for 6 h, 12 h, 48 h and 168 h. Then the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were evaluated in gills and digestive gland as well as the contents of glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation by measuring the malondialdehyde concentration (MDA). In the gills, GST activity decreased after 48 h and GR after 12 h of exposure to B5. In digestive glands, the activities of SOD, GPx and GR were changed due to treatments. GSH concentration increased in digestive gland after 6 h and 12 h and in gills after 48 h for B5 0.1 mL L−1 and after 168 h in the digestive gland for B5 0.01 mL L−1 treatment. No lipid peroxidation was detected. The integrated biomarker response index (IBR) evidenced a B5 effect in the digestive gland after 168 h of exposure. Regarding the experimental conditions and species used in this study, long-term exposure to B5 is apparently more likely to affect the parameters tested in P. perna mussels.