A Two-Species Biomarker Model for the Assessment of Sediment Toxicity in the Marine and Estuarine Environment Using the Comet Assay

Sediments frequently cause damage to biota due to the accumulation of toxic compounds and the bioavailability of sediment-associated contaminants. Damage can be assessed using biomarkers, such as the degree of genotoxic impact following in vivo exposure to contaminants. Genotoxic damage, expressed as single-strand DNA breaks, was measured in cells isolated from haemolymph/blood, gill and digestive gland/liver from the clam Tapes semidecussatus …