Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Franciscanas from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Marine mammals accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at different concentrations according to trophic levels and environmental conditions. The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small coastal species inhabiting the marine and estuarine areas of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Its diet includes numerous species of small fish, squid and crustaceans. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the heavy metal concentration and burden distribution in different franciscana age classes and sex, and to (ii) evaluate both the accumulation processes and the transplacental transference of zinc, cadmium, copper and total mercury. Heavy metal concentrations (wet weight) were determined in eighteen dolphins by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), by the cold vapour technique (mercury) or with air/acetylene flame (cadmium, zinc and copper). Liver showed the highest concentrations of mercury (max. 8.8 mg/g), zinc (max. 29.7 mg/g) and copper (max. 19.0 mg/g), whereas the highest cadmium concentrations (max. 6.7 mg/g) were found in kidney. Adults contained the highest concentrations for all heavy metals, followed by juveniles and calves in decreasing order, suggesting an age-related accumulation. No differences (p<0.05) were found between sexes within each age class. Organ burden distribution followed the same pattern for all metals and age classes: liver tissues contained maximum burdens. Mercury concentrations were higher than those of cadmium in both foetuses and newborns; and neither metal could be detected in the foetus. The analysed data suggested differences in the placental transference between metals, being significant for mercury and almost null in the case of cadmium. We can conclude that franciscana accumulates heavy metals and, due to its coastal distribution, it may be considered as a biomonitor of its environment. SPANISH: Los mamíferos marinos acumulan metales pesados en sus tejidos cuyas concentraciones están en relación con su nivel trófico y las condiciones ambientales. La franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) es una especie costera que habita áreas marinas y estuariales en el Atlántico Sudoccidental. Su dieta está constituída por peces, como item alimentario principal, calamares y crustáceos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar la distribución de metales pesados en diferentes clases de edad y en ambos sexos, evaluando procesos de acumulación y cargas de cadmio, mercurio total, cinc y cobre. Las concentraciones de metales pesados (en peso húmedo) fueron determinadas en dieciocho delfines por Espectrofotometría de Absorción Atómica (EAA), usando la técnica de vapor frío (mercurio) o llama de aire/acetileno (cadmio, cinc y cobre). El hígado presentó las concentraciones más altas de mercurio (máx. 8,8 mg/g), cinc (máx. 29,7 mg/g) y cobre (máx. 19,0 mg/g), mientras que las más altas de cadmio (máx. 6,7 mg/g) fueron encontradas en el riñón. Los adultos presentaron los niveles más altos, presentando los juveniles y cachorros concentraciones menores, lo cual sugirió una acumulación con la edad. No se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) entre sexos dentro de cada clase de edad. Las cargas de metales pesados en los órganos presentaron la misma disribución para todos los metales y clases de edad. Los valores más altos fueron encontrados en el hígado, incluyendo los correspondientes a cadmio. Las concentraciones de mercurio y cadmio fueron no detectables en el feto, mientras que las de mercurio fueron superiores a las de cadmio en los cachorros. Los datos encontrados en el feto sugieren una transferencia nula a través de la placenta. Podemos concluir que P.blainvillei acumula metales pesados en sus tejidos y debido a su distribución costera, esta especie puede ser considerada como un biomonitor de su ambiente.

Aluminium in Fisch und Fischereierzeugnissen

Recent reports associating aluminium with several skeletal (osteomalacia) and neurological disorders (encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s disease) in humans suggest that exposure to aluminium may pose a hazard to health. This requires the examination of aluminiumcontent in different foodstuffs. Therefore, an analytical method for the determination of aluminium in fish and fishery products, especially in fishery products packaged in aluminium cans, was developed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Fillets of lean and fatty fish showed aluminium levels lower than 1mg/kg wet weight, muscle of crustacean, molluscan and shellfish had apparently higher aluminium levels (up to 20 mg/kg wet weight). The aluminium content in some aluminum-canned herring was much higher than the content found in herring caught in the North Sea. These results indicate that aluminium is taken up by the herring fillets in aluminium cans, presumably through the slight and slow dissolution of aluminium from the can wall, due to some defects in the protective lacquer layer. A comparison of the aluminium levels measured in canned herring with the average aluminium-intake (normally between 3 and 5 mg/day) or with the provisional tolerable daily intake of 1mg/kg body weight per day (WHO 1989) indicated, that the aluminium content of the edible part of aquatic food does not play a significant role. High consumption of fish fillets does not pose any health risk.

Seasonal variation of some trace metal concentrations in some fish species on stretch of River Kubanni, Zaria

In a semi-urbanized stretch of river Kubanni, Zaria, seasonal variations of some tree metals (copper, zinc and lead) in fish species (Clarias sp., Tilapia sp and Alestes sp) were investigated over a period of eight months. Water and fish were sampled monthly, pooled separately and seasonal analysis of each trace determined using atomic absorption method. The concentration of each of the elements in water higher in the dry season than during the rainy season. The dry and rainy season concentrations of copper, zinc and lead were 6.85~c10.66 mu gg super(-1)&1.45~c1.10 mu gg super(-1); 2.13~c1.68 mu gg super(-1)&0.1 5~c0.05 mu gg super(-1); and 0.52~c0.50 mu gg super(-1) & 0.31~c0.14 mu gg super(-1) respectively. Similarly, all the three accumulated more zinc and lead in the dry season than during the rainy season. Tilapia species and to some extent, Alestes species being pelagic had a higher concentration of trace metals than Clarias species which is a bottom dwelling fish Tilapia species may therefore be a better indicator species than Clarias species for monitoring trace metals in water bodies. Reasons for the observed variations in the trace metals were discussed

Chemical forms of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in sediments of the northern part of the Red Sea, Egypt

Total concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals in sediment samples from the Gulf of Suez and the northern part of the Red Sea, collected during January 2003, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Maximum concentrations of 49.56, 65.42, 33.52 and 3.52 µg/g were recorded for total Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd respectively at Adabiya location. These may reflect the high contribution of land-based activities in the northern part of the Gulf. Also, high percentages of heavy metals were found in the residual fraction (Cu=78.61, Zn=77.10 and Pb=66.80%) while a high percentage of Cd was found in the carbonate fraction (45.82%). However, few or negligible percentages were recorded in the exchangeable fractions (Cu=0.51, Zn=1.57 and Pb=1.74%). Concentration of Cd in the exchangeable fraction was too low to be detected.

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals Ni, V in sediments and anodonts of the Anzali Lagoon and applicability of netural red retention assay (NRR) as biomarkers of these pollutants

Biochemical ecotoxicology and biomarkers using are a new sciences that are used for biomonitoring in aquatic environment. Biomonitoring plays a vital role in strategies to identify, assess, and control contaminants. On the other hands in recent year's attention to polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals increased in aquatic environments because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties combined with their nearly ubiquitous distribution in depositional environments by oil pollution or industrial waste waters. The present research aimed to assess PAHs and Ni, V levels in surface sediments and bivalves (Anodonta cygnea)and the effects of PAHs and heavy metals (Ni,V) on the hemocyte of the Anodonta cygnea were investigated in 2 stations (Mahrozeh, Selke in Anzali Lagoon, North of Iran). Samples were collected during at 2 different periods of the year, Dry and rain seasons, (June & September) and to confirm our first observations, Cage station is added. The bivalves hemocytes were monitored for membrane injury by NRR methods (neutral red retention assay). Heavy metal (Ni, V) concentrations were determined by Atomic Absorption in Anodonta cygnea and the sediments in Anzali Lagoon. The vanadium concentration in bivalves and sediments was ND(not detect )-0.4231 μg/g and 1.4381-306.9603 μg/g dry weight respectively. Nickel concentration in bivalves and sediments was 0.0231-1.3351, 0.4024-19.3561 μg/g dry weight respectively. PAHs concentrations were determined by GC-Mass in Anodonta cygnea and the sediments. Average concentration of PAHs is 115-373.788 ng/g dry weight in bivalves and average concentration of PAHs is 34.85-1339.839 ng/g dry weight in sediments. Bioaccumulation sediments factor(BASF) is high about PAHs (>1) and BASF is low for Ni, V (<1) . Internal Damage mechanisms of bivalves hemocytes (cell mortality, dye leakage, decreased membrane stability, are observed (Lowe Methods). Statistical analysis was used to explore the relationship between altered cellular and above contaminants. There are power and negative correlations between PAHs and NRR method for hemocytes in Anodonta cygnea (P<0.0005), but good correlation is not observed between Ni, V and NRR method for hemocytes in every time. This research indicates that the NRR assay is a useful screening technique able to discriminate polluted sites and at first we announce that Anodonta cygnea hemocytes are efficient biomarker for PAHs pollutants in fresh water.

The study of biological characteristics and heavy metal determination of Cd, Pb, Fe, V, Ni in the muscle, liver and gonad tissues of kingfish Scomberomorus commerson in the coastal waters of the Hormozagan Province (Persian Gulf)

Biological studies and heavy metal (Ni, v, Fe, Pb,Cd) determination in liver, gonad and muscle of Scomberomorus commerson were carried out from Oct 2006 to Sept 2007 in Hormozgan coastal waters. 599 Samples were gutted for reproduction and nutrition studies, fork length and weight were measured to nearest cm and g respectively. Meanwhile 40 samples were also investigated for heavy metal studies. All specimens were collected from two major landing sites (Bandar Lengeh & Bandar Abbas). Minimums & maximum fork length & weight were 29, 128 cm & 235 and 15350 g respectively.Isometric growth was shown according to our study and b was estimated 2.9 (overall), 2.91(male) & 2.89 (female). The average relative gut length was 0.52± 0.007 and it was determined that S. commerson is a carnivorous. More than 99 percent of gut content was different teleost fishes. Gastro somatic index had two peaks in Nov & Jan (before spawning) and with a decreased trend in July, the spawning period. Occurrence of empty stomach was estimated % 65.77. Maximum amount of condition factor was in Dec. Spawning season was started from June. The average of Absolute & relative fecundity (to weight unit) was 1217149±179315 and 178.2±15.58 respectively. Lm50% was estimated 75 cm for females. Sex ratio was 0.97: 1 (male: female). Chi- Square test showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Maximum amount of hepatosomatic index was estimated in March.Metal concentrations were determined using either Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (for Fe) or Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (for Pb,Cd,Ni and V). The mean concentration (μg/g dry weight)of Pb,Cd,Ni,V and Fe in the liver were 0.0309, 0.0268, 0.0672, 0.0077, 2.5159 in the gonad 0.0440 ,0.0295, 0.1096, 0.0000, 1.4449 and in the muscle 0.0244, 0.0324, 0.0656, 0.0128, 1.6138 respectively. The maximum metal concentrations were below the maximum permissible limits for human consumption recommended by the USEPA, WHO and the UK. The results of Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient were as follows: The Liver tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between accumulation of V, Fe, and Pb with Fork length, Pb and Fe with weight, GSI with Pb, Cd, V and 109 Fe, and a negative linear relationships between HSI with accumulation of V and Fe, Fork length, weight and GSI. The Gonad tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between GSI with accumulation of Pb, Cd, Fe, Fork length and weight, a negative linear relationship between HSI with Fork length, weight and GSI. The Muscle tissue: There were significant positive linear relationships between accumulations of V, Fe with Fork length and weight factors and as well as GSI with Cd, V, Fe, Pb, Fork length and weight,a negative linear relationship between HSI with Fork length, weight, Cd, Fe and GSI. The results of Mann-Whitney U tests (P≤0.05) show that there were significant differences between summer and autumn from heavy metal contents in the studied tissues point of view. The only exceptions were for Ni in the liver, gonads and muscle and as well as there were significant differences between male and female from heavy metal contents in the studied tissues. The only exceptions were for Pb in muscle, Ni in liver, gonad and muscle, V in muscle, and Cd and Fe in gonads.