Nickel in the muscle tissues of freshwater fish from north eastern Poland should not cause human health concerns

Excessive intake of nickel (Ni) is known to produce adverse health effects in humans, including carcinogenicity and allergenicity. The main route of exposure for humans is diet, including fish. There is, however, little information concerning Ni content in freshwater fish in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Ni in meat tissues of three fish species from north eastern Poland and assess toxic potential to healthy and susceptible sub-groups of individuals. The settings for the study lakes span a range of anthropogenic influence from protected areas to a basin with a town and several villages and another one influenced by a pesticide tomb leakage. Fish were netted and kept frozen until analysis. After defrosting, the fish were filleted and minced. The ashed samples were dissolved in nitric acid and analyzed for Ni by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Roach meat contained 6.6–23 µg kg^?1 Ni, bream 9.5–178 µg kg^?1, and carp 16.5–139 µg kg^?1. These concentrations are low, indicating that the fish were not excessively contaminated with the metal. Consuming a 250 g portion of fish would result in an average nickel intake of 4 µg for roach, <10 µg for bream, and <20 µg for carp. These values represent only 0.4–2% of the maximum level that is likely to pose a risk of adverse effects as established in the USA. Consumption of fish from the study region need not necessarily pose a health threat.     

Determination of mercury and arsenic levels in fish caught in the Beheshtabad River,Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province,Iran

Mercury and arsenic pollution has been recognized as a potential environmental and public health problem for over 40 years. The major source of exposure to mercury for humans is the ingestion of fish. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the levels of mercury and arsenic in the muscles of four fish species caught in the Beheshtabad River and comparing the results with the maximum tolerance levels for mercury and arsenic. The samples of 90 fish were used for the determination of both the metals by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the concentrations ranged from 1.5 to 3.8 µg kg^?1 for mercury and from 35 to 70 µg kg^?1 for arsenic, with means of 2.7 ± 0.5 and 57 ± 12 µg kg^?1, respectively. Both mean levels were lower than the threshold limits acceptable by WHO standards.     

Mercury exposure through diet in pregnant women and women of childbearing age

The study examined the stage of clean-up of the Port Lavaca bay sites in Texas, which were polluted during the early 1990's by effluent containing mercury (Hg) from a chloralkali plant. In addition to Hg intoxication through environmental contaminations, human exposure through dietary fish and other seafoods occurred. Bacteria converts inorganic Hg to alkyl organic compounds and subsequently the metal crosses the blood brain barrier thus exerting adverse effects on the fetal developing nervous system. In order to conduct a survey of dietary Hg exposure, blood was collected from pregnant women and those of childbearing age at routine clinic visits at each of three centers in South Texas cities (Galveston, Texas City, Port Lavaca/Victoria, TX). A questionnaire sought dietary and lifestyle information including consumption, sources of fish and other seafoods. A significant number of subjects (119 out of 175, 68%) ate fish caught locally. The blood Hg concentrations (µg?L^?1) range varied with the location of the study centers: City of Galveston 2.6–62; Texas City 2.8–111.8; and the Port Lavaca areas 3.02–126.7. The concentrations of blood Hg was directly proportional to the number of fish meals consumed for each species considered. Mean blood Hg concentrations for no fish meals per week were: Port Lavaca 4.5 (N?=?3), Galveston 4.3 (N?=?3), Texas City 3.5 (N?=?10). For >3 fish meals per week, the mean blood Hg concentrations were: Port Lavaca, 48.0 (N?=?53), Galveston 29.1 (N?=?35), Texas City, 36.1 (N?=?31). Data show that residues of Hg were still present in 1994 despite the clean-up efforts.     

Acute toxicity of the synthetic pyrethroid pesticide fenvalerate to some air breathing fishes

Lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide, fenvalerate, for three species of air breathing fish Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus and Heteropneustes fossilis were determined under water and acetone soluble condition in the laboratory using the static bioassay procedure of the American Public Health Association (APHA,1995). Acetone soluble fenvalerate was found more toxic than the water-soluble fenvalerate irrespective of species and exposure periods. The LC₅₀ value upon 96 days exposure to acetone soluble fenvalerate for C. batrachus, Channa C. punctatus and Heteropneustes H. fossilis were 1.35, 1.0 and 0.65?µg?L^?1, respectively. It is concluded from the present study that fenvalerate is highly toxic even to the hardy air breathing fishes and the pesticide, when dissolved in water, remains photostable and active to render toxicity for long duration.     

Oxidative stress in the freshwater cyprinid crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.) upon chronic exposure to endosulfan

Oxidative stress and antioxidant responses of crucian carp, upon chronic exposure to endosulfan, were evaluated in vivo. The lethal concentration (LC_50–96?h) was 70 μg L^?1; on its basis, the fish were exposed to endosulfan at 20, 35, and 50 μg L^?1 and autopsy was done on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. Lipid peroxidation was induced in a concentration-dependent manner, being highest at 50 μg L^?1 (3/4 LC_{50–96 h}, sub-lethal concentration-I, SL-I) on day 4 (720% versus control), followed in its extent (490%) at 30 μg L^?1 (1/2 LC_{50–96 h}, sub-lethal concentration-II, SL-II) on day 7 and lowest (260%) at 10 μg L^?1 (1/4 LC_{50–96 h}, sub-lethal concentration-III, SL-III) on day 14. Glutathione showed a concentration- and time-dependent elevation in the initial phase, with highest level on day 4 (180%) at SL-I, but showed significant reduction in all test concentrations from day 21 of post-exposure. Superoxide dismutase was decreased significantly throughout the study, with highest reduction (63%) on day 4 at SL-I; catalase increased in all test concentrations up to day 14 but showed a significant decrease from the day 28 of post-exposure. The potential role of these parameters as indicators of pesticide pollution in aquatic systems is discussed.     

Levels of selected heavy metals in commercial fish from five freshwater lakes,Pakistan

The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg are estimated by atomic absorption in the muscle of six commercial species of fish belonging to five freshwater lakes of Pakistan. The species included Mastacembelus armatus, Tor putitura, Mystus seenghala, Wallago attu, Catla catla and Labeo rohita. The fish were procured in comparable weight ranges so that a viable comparison of trace metal content could be effected. As, Fe, Pb, Zn and Hg showed elevated levels of 0.006–6.967, 0.933–6.133, 0.060–4.108, 0.978–5.363 and 0.030–3.211 μg/g, wet weight. The relevant statistical parameters, such as standard deviation, standard error, skewness and its t‐value are also reported for establishing the randomness of the distribution in relation to the corresponding data of freshwater lakes of the world and examined in view of species‐specificity and origin.     

珠江三角洲养殖鱼塘水体中重金属污染特征和评估

为了解珠江三角洲主要养殖环境中重金属含量及潜在生态危害程度,用电感藕合等离子质谱法和原子荧光法测定了肇庆、广州、惠州和茂名4市14个样点沉积物中7种元素的水体及底泥总量,并对底泥中主要重金属污染状况及潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明：养殖鱼塘水体中Cr质量浓度范围是nd-0.1011 mg·L-1,超标率为7.1%,Cu质量浓度范围为nd-0.1438 mg·L-1,超标率为64.3%,As质量浓度范围是0.0112-0.0812 mg·L-1,超标率为24.1%,Hg质量浓度范围是0.00004-0.00458 mg·L^-1,超标率为35.7%,Pb质量浓度范围为nd-0.0973 mg·L^-1,超标率为6.8%,其余Ni、Zn和Cd质量浓度范围分别为nd-0.0218、nd-0.0232和nd-0.00319 mg·L^-1,均未超渔业水质标准;底泥中重金属元素Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Cd和Pb的平均值分别为83.86、46.19、242.16、32.38、0.64、1.00和60.06 mg·kg^-1,地积累指数评价结果显示,表层沉积物重金属污染程度顺序为Cd＞Hg＞Zn＞Pb＞As＞Cu＞Cr,其中,Cd污染程度为中-强,是底泥污染最严重的元素。潜在生态风险指数分析,单项潜在生态风险指数生态风险均值排列顺序为 Hg＞As＞Cd＞Pb＞Cu＞Zn＞Cr。对区域综合潜在生态风险指数RI的贡献率最大的元素为Hg、As和Cd。4个市底泥潜在生态风险综合指数（RI）比较,惠州（290.13）＞广州（240.54）＞茂名（193.23）＞肇庆（116.40）。Hg和Cd是该水域污染和潜在生态风险最大的元素。     

毒死蜱对我国南方稻区水域中12种淡水鱼的毒性

毒死蜱作为稻田常用农药,普遍存在于稻区沟渠、池塘和河流中,从而对生活在其中的鱼类具有潜在风险。通过短期暴露试验,比较了毒死蜱在纯水、水-沉积物体系中对淡水鱼的毒性效应,进一步研究了毒死蜱在不同鱼体内的生物富集作用,以及对鱼脑Ach E活性的影响。试验结果表明:毒死蜱对12种淡水鱼均表现为高毒或剧毒,最敏感的是太阳鱼,但体系中沉积物的存在会通过吸附作用降低农药对鱼类的毒性;毒死蜱在鱼体内表现为中等或高富集性,其中斑马鱼的富集系数最大;毒死蜱对鱼脑Ach E酶活性有明显抑制作用,其中以虹鳟最敏感。研究结果为稻田常用农药对水生态环境中鱼类安全的风险性评价提供了科学依据。     

陡河水库鱼体汞的生物积累初探

为了解陡河燃煤电厂大气汞释放对毗邻的陡河水库水生生态系统中鱼体汞含量、生物积累和放大等的影响,本研究采集陡河水库野生鱼、虾和螺蛳,分别测定了鱼样等生物样品中的总汞和甲基汞,并对部分代表性样品测定稳定碳氮同位素比值。鱼汞分布特征和δ13C‰和δ15N‰同位素比值分布特征显示:鱼体(鲜样)中总汞和甲基汞平均含量分别为56.4±26.7和15.5±8.4 ng·g-1,总汞含量最高的是杂食性的白条鱼为133 ng·g-1。不同食性的鱼体δ13C和δ15N稳定同位素值变化范围分别为-28.1‰~-24.4‰和12.0‰~16.1‰,Log10[Hg]与δ15N的线性相关斜率值为负值。以上结果表明:陡河水库鱼体汞总体偏低,没有发现高生物积累和生物放大,其主要原因在于陡河水库水环境中汞含量较低,且陡河水库靠近市区,过度捕捞使可以捕获的鱼样种类和数量偏少,且鱼龄较低。