UNASSIGNED: @entity8758 ( @entity2385 , DBT, and MBT) effects on molluscs, especially endocrine disruption in bivalves and gastropods, have been widely investigated. Imposex, the superimposition of male characters onto female gonochoristic Caenogastropods, is the most studied biological effect of @entity2385 . @entity2385 compounds are among the priority hazardous substances within Directives 2000/60/EC (WFD) and 2008/105/EC. The Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) set by the WFD for @entity2385 are quite difficult to quantify by means of chemical analysis, without the use of expensive and high performance methods. Assuming that EQSs set for @entity2385 were derived from evidence of imposex development at very low concentrations, this specific biomarker could be used as an indirect measure of assessing levels of bioavailable BTs. Therefore, this study aims to validate the use of imposex development as an investigative tool to monitor the bioavailable fraction of BTs within the WFD, by comparing imposex levels and BT concentrations in Nassarius nitidus from the Venice Lagoon. BT concentrations and imposex levels in N. nitidus, collected in 2013, had decreased when compared to previous studies in the same area. Both VDSI and RPLI correlated positively with BT body burden in females, confirming that imposex is a valid tool to monitor bioavailable BTs. However, @entity2385 is still a matter of concern in the Venice Lagoon, as @entity2385 concentrations were still higher than its degradation products suggesting recent fresh @entity2385 inputs in the studied area. To propose imposex levels as an indicator of the impact of BTs within the WFD, classification class boundaries and Ecological Quality Ratios were introduced. As a preliminary attempt, imposex levels were also compared to the OSPAR Commission EcoQOs which linked imposex levels in @entity63316 with @entity2385 concentrations in water. Based on this comparison the degree of imposex development in the Venice Lagoon suggested that @entity2385 concentrations in water should be over the EQS-AA concentration and, at one site, also over the EQS-MAC. From all the results obtained in this work, it appears that imposex evaluation in @entity63316 could give information about the ecological status regarding BT compounds under the WFD and also be used to monitor their effects and support chemical analyses until more sensitive methods become available.

Imposex in Nassarius nitidus (Jeffreys, 1867) as a possible investigative tool to monitor XXXX contamination according to the Water Framework Directive: A case study in the Venice Lagoon (Italy).

@entity8758 :: ('CHEBI:22966', 'Chemical') :: ['Butyltin'] @entity63316 :: ('6485', 'Species') :: ['Nassarius reticulatus', 'N. reticulatus'] @entity2385 :: ('CHEBI:27086', 'Chemical') :: ['TBT']
@entity8758 :: (CHEBI:22966,Chemical) :: ['butyltin']
