This method offers a simple
cost-effective biomarker of endocrine disruption in
mussels (Porte et al. 2006). Some studies of bivalves have
used this approach, finding that Vg seems to be relatively
sensitive to estrogen exposure (Gagné et al. 2001, Aarab
et al. 2006, Matozzo et al. 2008) and that endocrine
disruption occurs after exposure to estrogenic compounds
and urban effluents (Gagné et al. 2001, Quinn et al. 2004,
Ortiz-Zaragoitia & Cajaraville 2006).