The relationships between DNA damage and oxidative stress in the digestive gland, gills and haemocytes of the freshwater bivalve Unio tumidus were investigated. Two markers of genotoxicity were measured: DNA breaks by means of the comet assay, and oxidative DNA lesions by means of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrochemical detection. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) tissue levels. Effects were studied after exposure of bivalves for 6 days to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) (50 and 100 microg l(-1)) and ferric iron (20 and 40 mg l(-1)), applied alone or in combination. Lipid peroxidation in the digestive gland and gills resulted from exposure to Fe3+ or B[a]P whatever the concentrations tested. DNA oxidatively formed lesions were induced in the two tissues at a higher level after B[a]P exposure than after Fe3+ treatment. No significant dose-response relationship was found with the two compounds and no synergistic effect was observed between Fe3+ and B[a]P. The gills appeared less sensitive than the digestive gland to DNA lesions expressed as 8-oxodGuo and comet results. Good correlations were noted between 8-oxodGuo and comet. MDA and DNA damage did not correlate as well, although it was stronger in the digestive gland than in the gills. Production of mucus by the gills likely served to prevent lesions by reducing the bioavailability of the chemicals tested, which could explain that dose-effect relationships and synergistic effects were not observed.