title: Heavy-metal content and oxidative damage in Hypsiboas faber: the impact of coal-mining pollutants on amphibians.
abstract: It has been identified worldwide that amphibians are experiencing massive population declines. This decrease could be further enhanced by the exposure of amphibians to pollutants, which would enhance reactive oxygen species production and cause subsequent alterations in oxidant defense levels. The present study was aimed at understanding the impact of mineral coal on amphibians. For this purpose, chemical elemental contents and oxidative stress indexes in Hypsiboas faber from coal-mining areas and in an unpolluted area in the Catarinense Coal Basin, Brazil, were assessed. The highest contents of sulfur, chlorine, iron, zinc, and bromine were registered in specimens from the coal-mining area, whereas the highest contents of potassium calcium, and silicon were registered in specimens from the control area. It was found that there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the activity of super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the animals from the coal-mining area, whereas the level of catalase showed no differences between the animal groups. The levels of TBARS showed no differences between the tested groups. However, carbonylation decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in animals from the coal-mining area, and there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the formation of total thiols in animals from the coal-mining area. In conclusion, the antioxidant system of H. faber is sensitive to pollutants present in coal-mining wastes, and its SOD and GPx activity may be a potential biomarker for monitoring the level of contaminants in the environment.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Laboratório de Ecologia de Paisagem e de Vertebrados, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, Criciúma, SC, CEP: 88806-000, Brazil, jjz@unesc.net.
authors: Jairo José
authors: JJ
authors: Zocche
authors: Luciano Acordi
authors: LA
authors: da Silva
authors: Adriani Paganini
authors: AP
authors: Damiani
authors: Rodrigo Ávila
authors: RÁ
authors: Mendonça
authors: Poliana Bernardo
authors: PB
authors: Peres
authors: Carla Eliete Iochims
authors: CE
authors: dos Santos
authors: Rafaela
authors: R
authors: Debastiani
authors: Johnny Ferraz
authors: JF
authors: Dias
authors: Vanessa Moraes
authors: VM
authors: de Andrade
authors: Ricardo Aurino
authors: RA
authors: Pinho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003032:Coal Mining; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase