Group for the research of biologically active contaminants in biota and environment

Research areas:

The study of biologically active compounds in the ecosystem, their impact on the ecosystem and human health. Particularly the study will focus on:

• Endocrine disruptors in sediment and biota
• Phytoplankton toxins in shellfish
• Biochemical parameters of shellfish quality

Research description:

The focus of the first part of research is on biologically active substances of anthropogenic origin. In the previous research HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) instrument was used to measure preliminary concentration of BPA in samples of sediment and suspended matter from the eastern side of the Adriatic. Continued research of sediment will include also nonylphenol (NP), oktylphenol (OP) and t-oktylphenol (t-OP). Presence of all compounds will be determined in the biological material too.
The second part of the research relates to the continuation of the study of heavy metals in the Adriatic. By using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) heavy metals in mussels from the Mali Ston Bay were quantified. The concentrations of heavy metals were correlated with the concentration of DSP toxins continuing the previous research of the presence of algal toxins in shellfish.

Contacts with academic and other institutions:

– Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo

Description of the current cooperation:

Ph.D. Ivana Anđelić and Ph.D. Nenad Vuletić prepared the experimental part of the doctoral thesis at the Institute, Ph.D. Stephen Orhanović published several scientific papers in collaboration with groups from the Institute

Plans for future research:

The research focus is the biologically active substances of anthropogenic origin namely bisphenol A (BPA), nonyl phenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and t-octyl phenol (t-PA). It is planned to continue the pollution research with recent sediment samples with additional determination of organic matter and particle size distribution. Research is expanded to the measurement of concentrations of NP, OP and t-OP in sediment samples and shellfish using HPLC. The plan is to connect current research of heavy metals in shellfish with studies of BPA and NP, OP and t-OP. Investigation of the presence of algal toxins in shellfish is continued. Whenever possible, samples collected will be accompanied with temperature measurement and salinity and oxygen quantitation in the sea. For the purpose of the study the biochemical composition of the shellfish in various stages of growth will be determined. Protein will be determined by the Bradford method, the amino acid composition by HPLC, lipid composition according to the modified method of Bligh and Dyer, and the fatty acid composition by a GC (Gas Chromatography). Depending on the measured quantities of pollutants in sediment and biota the research will be expanded on their impact on organisms in the sea and indirectly on human health.

List of selected research papers:

• Čustović S., Orhanović S., Ninčević-Gladan Ž., Milandri A., Pavela Vrančić M. (2012) The presence of yessotoxins and Gymnodimine in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from the southern part of Adriatic sea (Dubrovnik area, Croatia). Fresenius Environmental Bulletin. 21 12a; 3842-3846
• Čustović S., Orhanović S., Ninčević-Gladan Ž., Josipović T., Pavela-Vrančič M., (2009) Occurrence of Yessotoxin (YTX) in the Coastal Waters of the Eastern-mid Adriatic Sea (Croatia) Fresenius Environ. Bull. 18 1452-1455.
• Mladineo I., Peharda M., Orhanović S., Bolotin J., Pavela-Vrančič M., Treursić B., (2007) The reproductive cycle, condition index and biochemical composition of the horse-bearded mussel Modiolus barbatus, Helgol. Mar. Res. 61 183-192.
• Marasović I., Ninčević Ž., Pavela-Vrančič M., Orhanović S., (1998) “A Survey of Shellfish Toxicity in the Central Adriatic Sea “, J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK 78:3 745-754.
• Orhanović S., Ninčević Ž., Marasović I., Pavela-Vrančič M., (1996) “Phytoplankton Toxins in the Central Adriatic Sea”, Croat. Chem. Acta 69 291-303.
• Ujević, I., Vuletić, N., Lušić, J., Nazlić, N., Kušpilić, G. (2015) Bioaccumulation of Trace Metals in Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Mali Ston Bay during DSP Toxicity Episodes. Molecules, 20, 13031-13040.
• Anđelić I., Matijević S., Ujević I., (2015) Preliminary investigation of bisphenol A in sediments and suspended matter in Kaštela Bay (Adriatic Sea, Croatia), Acta.Adriat. 56(2)259-268