scholarly journals Contamination and oxidative stress biomarkers in estuarine fish following a mine tailing disaster

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrício Â. Gabriel ◽  
Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis ◽  
Lorena Soares ◽  
Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco ◽  
Rafael Christian Chavez Rocha ◽  
...  

Background The Rio Doce estuary, in Brazil, was impacted by the deposition of iron mine tailings, caused by the collapse of a dam in 2015. Based on published baseline datasets, the estuary has been experiencing chronic trace metal contamination effects since 2017, with potential bioaccumulation in fishes and human health risks. As metal and metalloid concentrations in aquatic ecosystems pose severe threats to the aquatic biota, we hypothesized that the trace metals in estuarine sediments nearly two years after the disaster would lead to bioaccumulation in demersal fishes and result in the biosynthesis of metal-responsive proteins. Methods We measured As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn concentrations in sediment samples in August 2017 and compared to published baseline levels. Also, trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn) and protein (metallothionein and reduced glutathione) concentrations were quantified in the liver and muscle tissues of five fish species (Cathorops spixii, Genidens genidens, Eugerres brasilianus, Diapterus rhombeus and Mugil sp.) from the estuary, commonly used as food sources by local populations. Results Our results revealed high trace metal concentrations in estuarine sediments, when compared to published baseline values for the same estuary. The demersal fish species C. spixii and G. genidens had the highest concentrations of As, Cr, Mn, Hg, and Se in both, hepatic and muscle, tissues. Trace metal bioaccumulation in fish was correlated with the biosynthesis of metallothionein and reduced glutathione in both, liver and muscle, tissues, suggesting active physiological responses to contamination sources. The trace metal concentrations determined in fish tissues were also present in the estuarine sediments at the time of this study. Some elements had concentrations above the maximum permissible limits for human consumption in fish muscles (e.g., As, Cr, Mn, Se and Zn), suggesting potential human health risks that require further studies. Our study supports the high biogeochemical mobility of toxic elements between sediments and the bottom-dwelling biota in estuarine ecosystems.

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1409-1418
Author(s):  
B. Samuel ◽  
S. Sorsa ◽  
F. Daniel ◽  
G. Riise ◽  
G.M. Zinabu

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Pb and Hg) in muscle tissues of two fish species (Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus) in an Ethiopian rift-valley lake (Hawassa) and a neighboring stream (Boicha) were determined. Target hazard quotients (THQ), hazard index (HI) and target cancer risk (TCR) were used as indices to evaluate potential human health risks from fish consumption. Average concentrations of metals decreased in the order Zn>Fe>Se>Cu>Hg>As>Ni>Cr>Co>Pb and Zn>Fe>Se>Cu>As>Hg>Cr>Ni>Pb>Co in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus and O. niloticus, respectively. Mean concentrations of Hg (0.34+0.04 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus from Lake Hawassa, and As (0.18+0.05 mg kg-1) as well as Hg (0.46+0.03 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus from Boicha stream were above the safety limits set by WHO/FAO. Likewise, mean concentrations of As (0.31+0.03 mg kg-1) and Hg (0.19+0.05 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of O. niloticus from Lake Hawassa and Cr (0.19+0.03 mg kg-1), As (0.33 +0.04 mg kg-1), and Hg (0.34+0.09 mg kg-1) in O. niloticus from Boicha stream were also above safety limits. From the results of human health risk assessments it was concluded that Cr, Cu, Hg and As pose potential health risks due to consumption of the two fish species from both water bodies. Moreover, effects of all heavy metals put together may affect human health as indicated by the high HI. Effluents from industries are assumed to be the main sources of the heavy metals. Therefore, regular monitoring of the water bodies and policy interventions with respect to waste disposal are recommended to protect the health of the ecosystem and the public. Keywords: Fish consumption, health risk, heavy metals, Lake Hawassa


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrício Ângelo Gabriel ◽  
Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis ◽  
Lorena Oliveira Souza Soares ◽  
Ana Carolina de Azevedo Mazzuco ◽  
Rafael Christian Chávez Rocha ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Rio Doce estuary in Brazil was impacted by the deposition of mine tailings caused by the collapse of a mining dam in 2015. Since the disaster, the estuary is experiencing chronic trace metal contamination effects, but potential trace metal accumulation in fishes has not been reported. Trace metals in aquatic ecosystems pose severe threats to the aquatic biota, so we hypothesized that the accumulation of trace metals in estuarine sediments nearly two years after the disaster would cause contaminant bioaccumulation, resulting in the biosynthesis of metal-responsive proteins in fishes. We determined trace metal concentrations in sediment samples, metal concentrations, and quantified stress protein concentrations in the liver and muscle tissue of five different fish species in the estuary. Our results revealed high concentrations of trace metals in estuarine sediments when compared to published baseline values for this estuary. The demersal fish species Cathorops spixii and Genidens genidens had the highest Hg, As, Se, Cr, and Mn concentrations in both hepatic and muscle tissues. Metal bioaccumulation in fish was statistically correlated with the biosynthesis of metallothionein and reduced glutathione in both fish liver and muscle tissue. The trace metals detected in fish tissues resemble those in the contaminated sediments present at the estuary at the time of this study and were also significantly correlated to protein levels. Trace metals in fish muscle were above the maximum permissible limits for human consumption, suggesting potential human health risks that require further determination. Our study supports the high biogeochemical mobility of trace metals between contaminated sediments and local biota in estuarine ecosystems.


Chemosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 124770 ◽  
Author(s):  
PraiseGod Chidozie Emenike ◽  
Jordan Brizi Neris ◽  
Imokhai Theophilus Tenebe ◽  
Chidozie Charles Nnaji ◽  
Peter Jarvis

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-377
Author(s):  
Florence Barbara Awino ◽  
William Andrew Maher ◽  
Frank Krikowa ◽  
A Jasmyn J Lynch

Author(s):  
Laurence Poirier ◽  
Brigitte Berthet ◽  
Jean-Claude Amiard ◽  
Anne-Yvonne Jeantet ◽  
Claude Amiard-Triquet

The need to use biomonitors representative of the sedimentary compartment has been recognized, particularly in estuaries. Thus, trace metal contamination has been monitored in an infaunal polychaete worm Nereis diversicolor and sediments in the Seine estuary and comparatively in the relatively clean Authie estuary (French coast of the English Channel) over two years taking samples every three months at both sites. No correlations were shown between total metal (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations in raw sediments and ragworms. Because these worms are known to be good biomonitors of the bioavailabilities of sedimentary trace metals, it follows that total sediment metal concentrations have a poor predictive ecotoxicological value. Using a correction factor to minimize the influence of weight, it is possible to make a good estimation of the average metal concentrations in a population of worms at a given site, sampling only a limited number of specimens. Metallothioneins are often considered to be good biomarkers of the presence of significant availabilities of trace metals. Metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) are present in N. diversicolor, but there is no significant relationship between MTLPs and metal concentrations. This situation might result from the importance of metal-containing granules, both extra- and intracellular, in ragworms.


2014 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato I.S. Alves ◽  
Carolina F. Sampaio ◽  
Martí Nadal ◽  
Marta Schuhmacher ◽  
José L. Domingo ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi Oguguah

Background. The most significant sources of food-borne diseases are microbiological and chemical hazards. The health risk due to consumption of food from aquatic ecosystems contaminated with hazardous chemicals including metals has increased globally, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.Objectives. The concentration and human health implications of trace metals in fish of economic importance in Lagos lagoon were investigated by determining the degree of contamination with heavy metals of selected fish from Lagos lagoon and assessing the possible health risks associated with fish consumption.Methods. Fish of economic importance including Caranx hippos, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Elops lacerta, Galeoides decadactylus, Ilisha africana, Liza falcipinnis, Lutjanus goreensis, Mugil cephalus, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Sarotherodon spp, Sphyraena spp, and Tilapia spp were bought from fishermen fishing in Lagos lagoon. The fish tissue samples were digested and analyzed in five replicates for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, iron, manganese and zinc) using a Varian AA600 atomic absorption spectrometer.Results. There were considerable variations in the concentrations of heavy metals among different species. The twelve fish species collected from Lagos lagoon were found to contain various concentrations of heavy metals and the levels of accumulation of these heavy metals varied across different species. Lead, cadmium, and manganese were present in all the studied fish species at higher concentrations than the maximum allowable concentrations in fish recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). The target hazard quotient (THQ) estimated for individual heavy metals through consumption of different fish species was less than 1 for all individual heavy metal in all the fish species.Conclusions. Controls on the dumping of wastes in the lagoon are needed, along with regular monitoring. Currently, no potential non-carcinogenic health risks from ingestion of a single heavy metal through consumption of these fish species was found.


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