........................................................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER I ......................................................................................................................................... 13 General Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14 1. Non native invasive species ................................................................................................. 14 1.1. Corbicula fluminea ................................................................................................................. 16 2. Anthropogenic contamination ............................................................................................. 17 2.1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons .......................................................................................... 19 2.2. Benzo[a]pyrene ....................................................................................................................... 20 3. Environmental biomarkers ................................................................................................... 23 3.1. Phase I ..................................................................................................................................... 25 3.2. Phase II .................................................................................................................................... 25 3.3. Biomarkers .............................................................................................................................. 26 4. Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 30 5. Thesis Structure .................................................................................................................... 30 6. References ............................................................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER II ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 41.............................................................................................................................................. 41