Heavy metal content and biotransformation enzymes in two fish species from the NW Mediterranean

Abstract

Trace metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn) and total calcium content were measured in the gills of 2 marine fish (painted comber Serranus cabrilla and striped mullet Mullus barbatus) sampled in different stations in the cove of Cortiou, where the outlet collecting the waste waters of Marseille, France, is situated (NW Mediterranean). In parallel, the activity rates of some phase 1 enzymes (ethoxyresorufin-0-dealkylase. EROD; pentoxyresorufin-0-dealkylase, PROD) and phase I1 enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, GST) were determined in the livers of both species of fish. Cadmium and copper concentrations were highly variable for both species. Two sampling stations situated in the dispersion area of waste waters seemed affected by chemical pollution. At these stations, iron concentrations appeared to be higher in gills of S. cabrilla and M. barbatus Elevated iron concentrations were thought to be due to the water treatment plant, which uses iron chloride as a flocculant. Likewise, at both stations calc~um and cadmium concentrations were higher in M. barbatus. EROD and PROD activities appeared to be generally lower in the livers of S. cabriUa collected at both 'polluted' stations; GST activities did not differ according to the sampling stations. Enzyme activities (PROD and GST) in M. barbatus were lower at the stations in the dispersion area of waste waters. The results imply that heavy metals, which can also be accumulated in some target organs of fish, may lower biotransformation enzyme activities which are induced in the Livers of fish exposed to organics.

Biomarkers: A new Approach to assess Environmental Impact of Petroleum E&P Activities

“…For heavy metals, however, GST activity increases in crab 21 , and decreases in fish 22 . These conclusions are supported by an other study where heavy metals are reported to inhibit biotransformation enzyme activities, which may explain the reduction in GST activity after such exposure in fish 23 .…”

EROD activity and cytochrome P4501A induction in liver and gills of Senegal sole Solea senegalensis from a polluted Huelva Estuary (SW Spain)

“…According to Eggens et al (1992), heavy metal contamination is a possible explanation for the discrepancies between the organic xenobiotic levels sometimes observed in fish tissue and its EROD activity. This explanation may be supported by other studies where low levels of EROD activity coincide with high content of heavy metals (Romeo et al, 1994).…”

Correlations between Geo-Chemical Speciation of Heavy Metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) in Surface Sediments and Their Concentrations in Giant Mudskipper (<i>Periophthalmodon schlosseri</i>) Collected from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

“…Non-significant correlations between all geochemical fractions of Pb in sediments with gills, intestine and liver of P. schlosseri might be attributed to regulatory functions of these organs. Gills and intestines are the main barriers that control absorption of metals from the environment and from contaminated preys [31] (Andres et al, 2000) while liver is the major organ involved in xenobiotic metabolism in fish [32] (Romeo et al, 1994). The non-significant correlation between muscles with any of the geochemical fraction of Pb might suggest muscle as poor accumulator of Pb.…”