Assessment of growth, genotoxic responses and expression of stress related genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas following chronic exposure to ionizing radiation

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Devos, Arnaud, Dallas, L.J., Voiseux, C., Lecomte-Pradines, C., Jha, A.N., Fievet, B.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire d'écotoxicologie des radionucléides (IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LECO), Service de Recherche et d'Expertise sur les Risques environnementaux (IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS), Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN)-Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Plymouth University, Interreg 4059European Regional Development Fund, FEDER
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-02570490; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.03.039

International audience Marine organisms are exposed to low doses of anthropogenic contaminants during their entire life. Authorized amounts of radionuclides are discharged in the Channel by nuclear facilities. The Pacific oyster was used to investigate the potential impact of chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. Though we exposed larvae and spat for two weeks to much higher concentrations than those encountered near nuclear facilities, oyster growth and expression of 9 selected stress genes were not significantly changed. To determine potential DNA damage, 2. year old oysters were exposed for two weeks to tritiated water. The comet assay was used to evaluate the level of DNA strand breaks in haemocytes, whilst the 'clearance rate' was used as a measure of physiological effects. Whilst other parameters did not alter, DNA damage significantly increased. Our results highlight the significance of the observed DNA damage and their potential consequences at higher levels of biological organization. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.