A model to environmental risk assessment based on biomarkers in crab Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Decapoda)

In this research, we present a mathematical model to environmental risk assessment based on biomarkers (glutathione-S-Tranferase activity and branchial lesions) in in crab Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Sao Luis Island (port area) and Facao Island (reference area) in Brazil. Adult males were captured bimonthly for a period of one year. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was measured spectrophotometrically, and branchial lesions were examined by light microscope. GST activity values were correlated with those of the branchial lesion scale (independent variable) by fitting third order polynomials using the least squares method (0.05 significance level). Higher GST activity (1.03±0.07 µmol min mg−1 protein−1) was observed in crabs at the potentially contaminated site (p