To what extent are hepatic concentrations of heavy metals in Anguilla anguilla at a site in a contaminated estuary related to body size and age and reflected in the metallothionein concentrations?
We explored how hepatic [metal]s in Anguilla anguilla at a contaminated estuarine site are influenced by body size, age and season, and the extent that [Cu], [Cd] and [Zn]s are reflected in [metallothionein (MT)]s. Although each [metal] and [MT] increased significantly with length, weight and age, those biotic variables explained <10% of the variation in each [metal] and only 11-16% for [MT]. Seasonal changes in [Cu] and [Cd] were paralleled by [MT]. The variation in [MT] explained by Cu (42%) was greater than by Zn (16%) and Cd (13%), and seasonally lay between 43 and 69% for those metals collectively. Thus, hepatic [MT] in eels is closely correlated with hepatic [heavy metal]s. However, the great variability among [MT]s for eels of similar sizes and ages, which reflects marked variability in hepatic [heavy metal]s, means that this variable reflects imprecisely the contamination level at a particular site.
Bird
D J
DJ
Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. david.bird@uwe.ac.uk
Rotchell
J M
JM
Hesp
S A
SA
Newton
L C
LC
Hall
N G
NG
Potter
I C
IC
D000375:Aging; D000811:Anguilla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049628:Body Size; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc