To evaluate the potential impact of an urban wastewater‐treatment plant on Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, a sentinel species, the clam Ruditapes decussatus, was exposed along a gradient of the effluent's dispersal for 1 mo. Three exposure sites were selected to study the responses of 3 biomarkers: electron transport system, acetylcholinesterase, and lipid peroxidation. As complementary data, morphometric measurements, condition index, and lipid and protein content were considered together with in situ physicochemical characterization of the sites (temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen). Electron transport system activity levels were between 35.7 and 50.5 nmol O₂/min g protein, acetylcholinesterase activity levels ranged from 2.6 to 3.8 nmol/min g protein, and lipid peroxidation ranged from 174.7 to 246.4 nmol malondialdehyde/g protein. The exposure sites shaped the response not only of biomarkers but also of “health” parameters (protein, lipids, and condition index). Lipid peroxidation was the most responsive biomarker also associated with electron transport system, especially at the closest site to the urban wastewater‐treatment plant. Because of the presence of complex mixtures of contaminants in urban effluents, biomarker responses can provide valuable information in environmental assessment. However, it is vital to identify all biological and ecological factors induced by the natural life cycle of clams. Abiotic factors can mask or overlap the response of biomarkers and should be considered in a multibiomarker approach. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:272–283. © 2020 SETAC

中文翻译：

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在城市污水处理厂影响下，暴露于复杂环境压力源的蛤蜊的生物标志物响应

为了评估城市污水处理厂对 Ria Formosa 沿海泻湖的潜在影响，一种前哨物种蛤蜊Ruditapes decussatus沿着污水扩散的梯度暴露 1 个月。选择了三个暴露位点来研究 3 种生物标志物的反应：电子传递系统、乙酰胆碱酯酶和脂质过氧化。作为补充数据，形态测量、条件指数、脂质和蛋白质含量与现场的原位物理化学特征（温度、盐度、pH 值和溶解氧）一起考虑。电子传输系统活动水平介于 35.7 和 50.5 nmol O _{2 之间}/min g 蛋白，乙酰胆碱酯酶活性水平范围为 2.6 至 3.8 nmol/min g 蛋白，脂质过氧化范围为 174.7 至 246.4 nmol 丙二醛/g 蛋白。暴露部位不仅影响生物标志物的反应，而且影响“健康”参数（蛋白质、脂质和状况指数）的反应。脂质过氧化是反应最快的生物标志物，也与电子传输系统相关，尤其是在距离城市污水处理厂最近的位置。由于城市污水中存在复杂的污染物混合物，生物标志物反应可以在环境评估中提供有价值的信息。然而，确定由蛤蜊的自然生命周期引起的所有生物和生态因素至关重要。环境毒理学化学2021；40：272-283。© 2020 SETAC