Given the wide use of CuO nanoparticles in various industrial and commercial applications they will inevitably end up in the aquatic environment. However, little information exists on their biological effects in bivalve species. Accordingly, mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to 10 μg Cu L(-1) as CuO nanoparticles and Cu(2+) for 15 days, and biomarkers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase), damage (lipid peroxidation) and metal exposure (metallothionein) were determined along with Cu accumulation in the digestive glands of mussels. Cu was linearly accumulated with time of exposure in mussels exposed to CuO nanoparticles, while in those exposed to Cu(2+) elimination was significant by day 15. Both forms of Cu cause oxidative stress with distinct modes of action. Exposure to CuO nanoparticles induces lower SOD activity in digestive glands compared to those exposed to Cu(2+), while CAT was only activated after 7 days of exposure to nano and ionic Cu, with contradictory effects after 15 days of exposure and GPX activities were similar. Lipid peroxidation levels increased in both Cu forms despite different antioxidant efficiency. Moreover, a linear induction of metallothionein was detected with time in mussels exposed to CuO nanoparticles, directly related to Cu accumulation, whereas in those exposed to Cu(2+) metallothionein was only induced after 15 days of exposure. Since only a small fraction of soluble Cu fraction was released from CuO nanoparticles, the observed effects seem to be related to the nano form of Cu, with aggregation as a key factor. Overall, our results show that the digestive gland is susceptible to CuO nanoparticles related oxidative stress, and is also the main tissue for their accumulation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.