Effects of pollutants in aquatic systems of the cross-border region of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

The southwest of the Iberian Peninsula is characterized by the presence of diverse aquatic environments, estuaries and marshes which environmental situation depends critically on the impact of pollutant substances as consequence of mining activities, increase of population densities, agricultural and industrial activities . A great number of contaminants are treated and eliminated in the waste water treatment plants, but recently the presence of new emergent pollutants has been detected which chemical nature limits the action of the treatment systems . In order to assess environmental risk and deterioration in these ecosystems analytical tools were developed under the framewor k of Interreg IIIA project Rise sub projects Endocrinbiotox and Farmacotox to characterize and diagnostic the presence of emergent pollutants . Samplings were carried in marshes and aquatic ecosystems of the cross- border region of Spain and Portugal, namely Bay of Cádiz, River Guadiana, Ria Formosa Lagoon and Arade River . Core sediments and benthic organisms (clam Scrobicularia plana and polychaete Nereis diversicolor) were sampled . Accordingly, molecular biomarkers based on the characterization of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damages in biomolecules were analyzed, as well as neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption . Biological answers were integrated with the determination of contaminants in organisms’ tissues and sediments . Additionally, a proteomic approach was applied to gather comprehensive information about protein changes in organisms’ tissues induced by distinct contaminants to identify new biomarkers to be used in environmental quality assessment . The integration of biomarker responses and sediment characterization can be a useful tool for marine pollution monitoring in southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.