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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
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A Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Assay Based on Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Hemocytes Motility
Published on: December 13, 2024
Mosses and Snails as Bioindicators Reflecting the Biologically Relevant Fraction of Toxic Elements
Alessia Postiglione1, Alessia Di Fraia1, Tania Russo1,2
1Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 26, 2026
Summary
This study shows that combining moss and snail bioindicators effectively detects early biological effects of air pollution. These sensitive organisms reveal toxic element accumulation, oxidative stress, and structural damage in polluted environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Biomonitoring
Background:
- Air pollution poses significant environmental and public health risks.
- Bioindicators are crucial for assessing biological impacts of pollutants.
- Understanding early biological effects aids in pollution management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the combined use of moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus) and snail (Cornu aspersum) as bioindicators.
- To assess early biological effects of toxic element exposure from air pollution.
- To link bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and structural damage.
Main Methods:
- Field transplantation of moss and snails for 30 days at contrasting Italian sites.
- Measurement of toxic elements (ICP-OES) and shell composition (FTIR spectroscopy).
- Assessment of oxidative stress biomarkers, HSP70 expression (Western blotting), and structural damage.
Main Results:
- Site-dependent accumulation of toxic elements in both bioindicators.
- Increased oxidative stress and HSP70 expression correlated with contamination.
- Observed ultrastructural changes in moss and histopathological alterations in snails, including shell changes.
Conclusions:
- The moss and snail combination provides a complementary approach to biomonitoring air pollution.
- These bioindicators effectively detect early biological responses to toxic elements.
- The study supports the use of these species for assessing environmental health impacts.
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