Heavy metal accumulation and the genotoxicity in barbel (Barbus barbus) as indicators of the Danube river pollution.
The aim of this study was to analyze 16 trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) in different barbel (Barbus barbus) tissues and to detect the presence of genotoxic effects in erythrocytes with the alkaline comet assay. Barbel specimens were collected in the Danube river near Belgrade, Serbia, where the discharge of untreated communal and industrial wastewaters is likely to produce negative effects on fish residing in this area. The highest concentrations of Sr, Mn, Fe, Ba, B, and Al were found in gills, Mo and Cu in liver, and As and Zn in gonads. Concentrations of Zn and Fe were above maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs) in a number of gonad, gill, and liver samples. Three-year-old barbel specimens had higher tail moment and Zn concentrations in gills (1.71 and 51.20 μg/g dw, resp.) than 5-year-old specimens (0.85 and 42.51 μg/g dw, resp.). Results indicate that the younger barbel specimens might be more suitable for the monitoring of environmental pollution.
Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Karolina
K
Sunjog
Zoran
Z
Gačić
Stoimir
S
Kolarević
Željka
Ž
Višnjić-Jeftić
Ivan
I
Jarić
Jelena
J
Knežević-Vukčević
Branka
B
Vuković-Gačić
Mirjana
M
Lenhardt
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical