Bioaccumulation and Effects of Metals Bound to Sediments Collected from Gulf of Ca ´diz (SW Spain) Using the Polychaete Arenicola marina Judit Kalman • Inmaculada Riba • Angel DelValls • Julian Blasco Received: 3 September 2010 / Accepted: 21 March 2011 / Published online: 6 April 2011 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 Abstract A short-term whole-sediment test using the polychaete Arenicola marina was conducted under labo- ratory conditions to assess the bioavailability of metals bound to sediments collected from 12 sites of the Gulf of Ca ´diz. To achieve this objective, the rate of increase of metal bioaccumulation and the induction of a typical bio- marker, metallothioneinlike proteins (MTLPs) were deter- mined. Results of the multivariate analysis showed associated metal-rich sediments, increased rate of Cu and Zn accumulations, but lower toxicity with an increased MTLP induction, whereas sedimentary Ni and Co con- centrations were related to higher toxicity to lugworms, although it might be caused by other contaminants present in these sediments. The linear kinetic approach was shown to be valid in certain circumstances, but more validation studies of this parameter are required before it can be recommended for use in evaluating metal bioavailability in sediments. Sediments are widely recognized and employed in assess- ing the impact of contaminants on aquatic systems (Bryan and Langston 1992) because chemicals normally have considerable higher concentrations in sediments than in the water column. Given that aquatic sediments can act as reservoir for persistent contaminants (e.g., trace metals), organisms that live in and feed on sediment can accumulate considerable amounts of contaminants. Thus, to assess the adverse effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment, several authors have proposed the use of sediment toxicity tests (Chapman and Wang 2001). These kinds of tests aim to study the relationships between the concentration of chemicals in sediment and any adverse biological effects on the biota resulting from exposure to these chemicals. Therefore, the correct choice of test organisms is essential for providing appropriate information of the hazards of chemical stressors (Chapman et al. 2002). Polychaetes—in particular, Arenicola marina—have been used as a bio- monitor of littoral and estuarine contamination (Bat 1998; Casado-Martı ´nez et al. 2008; Morales-Caselles et al. 2008; OSPAR 1995; Packer et al. 1980). Lugworms are abun- dant, tolerant to a wide range of environmental factors, and ecologically important; moreover, they ingest considerable quantities of sediment. The majority of studies on metal availability in sedi- ments are based on toxicity; however, bioaccumulation might be a more accurate end point for assessing bio- availability in risk assessment (Ankley 1996). Once a trace metal is taken up by an organism, it can be stored in detoxified form or remain metabolically available. Pro- vided their detoxification mechanisms are not over- whelmed, animals could accumulate increasing metal concentrations without apparent toxic effects (Casado- Martı ´nez et al. 2010). Adverse biological effects of pollu- tants might also be manifested at the biochemical level in organisms or at higher levels of organization, and respon- ses are measurable. Biomarkers have been incorporated into environmental toxicology research for decades, but J. Kalman Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucı ´a, CSIC, Polı ´gono Rı ´o San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Ca ´diz, Spain J. Kalman (&)  I. Riba  A. DelValls Ca ´tedra UNESCO/UNITWIN/WiCop, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Ca ´diz, Polı ´gono Rı ´o San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Ca ´diz, Spain e-mail: judit.kalman@uca.es J. Blasco Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucı ´a, CSIC, Polı ´gono Rı ´o San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Ca ´diz, Spain 123 Arch Environ Contam Toxicol (2012) 62:22–28 DOI 10.1007/s00244-011-9668-9