Toxicity of mercury : a comparative study in air-breathing and non air-breathing fish
TL;DR: Alteration in the levels of liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase, serum glucose and liver glycogen indicate that carbohydrate metabolism is impaired under the above experimental condition.
Abstract: In a mercury polluted environment, air-breathing fishes are more resistant towards mercury toxicity than the non air-breathing fishes as regards their duration of survival and growth. Under sub-acute levels of mercury exposure, they respond differently in so far as the activities of their liver, gill and intestinal lysosomal enzymes and liver microsomal enzymes are concerned. Alteration in the levels of liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase, serum glucose and liver glycogen indicate that carbohydrate metabolism is impaired under the above experimental condition.
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TL;DR: Results indicate that SPEDE was efficacious to quantify behavioural alterations in the epibenthic fish P. microps at ecologically relevant concentrations and suggests that disruption of cholinergic function through AChE inhibition, decreased detoxification capability due to EROD inhibition, additional energetic demands to face chemical stress, and oxidative stress and damage may contribute to decrease the swimming performance of fish.
Abstract: The main objective of the present study was to investigate possible links between biomarkers and swimming performance in the estuarine fish Pomatoschistus microps acutely exposed to metals (copper and mercury). In independent bioassays, P. microps juveniles were individually exposed for 96 h to sub-lethal concentrations of copper or mercury. At the end of the assays, swimming performance of fish was measured using a device specially developed for epibenthic fish (SPEDE). Furthermore, the following biomarkers were measured: lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione S-transferases (GST), 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). LC(50)s of copper and mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations) at 96h were 568 microg L(-1), and 62 microg L(-1), respectively. Significant and concentration-dependent effects of both metals on swimming resistance and covered distance against water flow were found at concentrations equal or higher than 50 microg L(-1) for copper and 3 microg L(-1) for mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations). These results indicate that SPEDE was efficacious to quantify behavioural alterations in the epibenthic fish P. microps at ecologically relevant concentrations. Significant alterations by both metals on biomarkers were found including: inhibition of AChE and EROD activities, induction of LDH, GST and anti-oxidant enzymes, and increased LPO levels, with LOEC values ranging from 25 to 200 microg L(-1), for copper and from 3 to 25 microg L(-1) for mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations). Furthermore, significant and positive correlations were found between some biomarkers (AChE and EROD) and behavioural parameters, while negative correlations were found for others (LPO, anti-oxidant enzymes and LDH) suggesting that disruption of cholinergic function through AChE inhibition, decreased detoxification capability due to EROD inhibition, additional energetic demands to face chemical stress, and oxidative stress and damage may contribute to decrease the swimming performance of fish. Since a reduced swimming capability of fish may reduce their ability to capture preys, avoid predators, and interfere with social and reproductive behaviour, the exposure of P. microps to copper and/or mercury concentrations similar to those tested here may decrease the fitness of wild populations of this species.
290 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of toxic elements on aquatic flora and fauna are discussed in the Venice Lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, by presenting the procedures adopted to measure the extent of the pollution, the impacts on organisms and the restoration activities.
Abstract: Estuaries and coastal zones are dynamic transitional systems which provide many economic and ecological benefits to humans, but also are an ideal habitat for other organisms as well. These areas are becoming contaminated by various anthropogenic activities due to a quick economic growth and urbanization. This chapter explores the sources, chemical speciation, sediment accumulation and removal mechanisms of the harmful elements in estuarine and coastal seawaters. It also describes the effects of toxic elements on aquatic flora and fauna. Finally, the toxic element pollution of the Venice Lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, is discussed as a case study, by presenting the procedures adopted to measure the extent of the pollution, the impacts on organisms and the restoration activities.
29 citations
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TL;DR: The median lethal concentration (LC50-96h) of mercury to Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, estimated through semi-static acute toxicity test developed with mercury chloride (HgCl2) is reported.
Abstract: This paper reports the median lethal concentration (LC50-96h) of mercury to Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, estimated through semi-static acute toxicity test developed with mercury chloride (HgCl2). The experiment was carried out in the Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory Instituto de Pesca, SP, under controlled conditions of temperature (24.4±2.25 0C) and photoperiod (10L:14D). Fingerlings (2.46±0.21 cm and 0.41±0.12 g) were kept during 96 hours in 5-liter glass aquaria, according to the following mercury concentrations, set up in three replicates: 0.00 (control), 0.037, 0.185, 0.370, 0.740, 0.925 mg Hg L-1. The value of LC50-96h was estimated in 0.220 mg Hg L-1
24 citations
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01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors introduced the development and current status of water quality criteria (WQC) in China and other countries or areas, and proposed a minimum toxicity data requirement (MTDR) as the principle metric for deriving WQC in China.
Abstract: The book mainly introduces readers to the development and current status of water quality criteria (WQC) in China and other countries or areas, and proposes a minimum toxicity data requirement (MTDR; i.e., six species from three phyla) as the principle metric for deriving WQC in China. Further, ten model species from 4 different phyla are recommended as domestic test species, and the methodologies for deriving aquatic life criteria, sediment criteria, ecocriteria and nutrient criteria in China are also described in detail. In order to demonstrate the methods, several representative chemical pollutants and aquatic environments are highlighted as examples. The book provides important references for future WQC-related research in China, which will make it of great interest to researchers and graduate students in the fields of environmental science, ecology and aquatic science etc.
18 citations
References
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TL;DR: Procedures are described for measuring protein in solution or after precipitation with acids or other agents, and for the determination of as little as 0.2 gamma of protein.
Abstract: Since 1922 when Wu proposed the use of the Folin phenol reagent for the measurement of proteins, a number of modified analytical procedures utilizing this reagent have been reported for the determination of proteins in serum, in antigen-antibody precipitates, and in insulin. Although the reagent would seem to be recommended by its great sensitivity and the simplicity of procedure possible with its use, it has not found great favor for general biochemical purposes. In the belief that this reagent, nevertheless, has considerable merit for certain application, but that its peculiarities and limitations need to be understood for its fullest exploitation, it has been studied with regard to effects of variations in pH, time of reaction, and concentration of reactants, permissible levels of reagents commonly used in handling proteins, and interfering substances. Procedures are described for measuring protein in solution or after precipitation with acids or other agents, and for the determination of as little as 0.2 gamma of protein.
285,427 citations
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TL;DR: The results show that the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method can be used with great confidence to determine the molecular weights of polypeptide chains for a wide variety of proteins.
Abstract: Forty proteins with polypeptide chains of well characterized molecular weights have been studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate following the procedure of Shapiro, Vinuela, and Maizel (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 28, 815 (1967)). When the electrophoretic mobilities were plotted against the logarithm of the known polypeptide chain molecular weights, a smooth curve was obtained. The results show that the method can be used with great confidence to determine the molecular weights of polypeptide chains for a wide variety of proteins.
19,356 citations
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TL;DR: Alkalinity measurements are used in the interpretation and control of water and wastewater treatment processes and can be interpreted in terms of specific substances only when the chemical composition of the sample is known.
Abstract: 1. Discussion Alkalinity of a water is its acid-neutralizing capacity. It is the sum of all the titratable bases. The measured value may vary significantly with the end-point pH used. Alkalinity is a measure of an aggregate property of water and can be interpreted in terms of specific substances only when the chemical composition of the sample is known. Alkalinity is significant in many uses and treatments of natural waters and wastewaters. Because the alkalinity of many surface waters is primarily a function of carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide content, it is taken as an indication of the concentration of these constitutents. The measured values also may include contributions from borates, phosphates, silicates, or other bases if these are present. Alkalinity in excess of alkaline earth metal concentrations is significant in determining the suitability of a water for irrigation. Alkalinity measurements are used in the interpretation and control of water and wastewater treatment processes. Raw domestic wastewater has an alkalinity less than, or only slightly greater than, that of the water supply. Properly operating anaerobic digesters typically have supernatant alkalinities in the range of 2000 to 4000 mg calcium carbonate (CaCO3)/L. 1
7,133 citations
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TL;DR: It has been found possible to establish conditions under which inorganic phosphate can readily be determined in the presence of labile esters.
Abstract: Labile phosphate esters such as phosphocreatine, acetyl phosphate, and ribose-l-phosphate (1) have assumed great biological importance. These esters are so unstable that they are split with great rapidity by the reagents commonly used for inorganic phosphate determination. Therefore, the usual inorganic phosphate measurements in tissue extracts, etc., actually represent the sum of the inorganic phosphate and the phosphate of these labile esters. In order to determine the labile esters it has usually been necessary to perform a prior removal of inorganic phosphate by precipitation (2). By working very rapidly, Fiske and Subbarom (3) were able to measure inorganic phosphate in the presence of phosphocreatine, but, due to the speed of the reaction, this procedure has been difficult to use. The detection and determination of such esters would become very simple if it were possible to determine inorganic phosphate in their presence, since the labile phosphate could then be measured by the inorganic phosphate liberated as the result of very mild hydrolysis. It has been found possible to establish conditions under which inorganic phosphate can readily be determined in the presence of labile esters. In addition to describing the procedure, data are presented as to the speed of hydrolysis of several of the labile esters under the prescribed conditions.
1,567 citations
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TL;DR: A review of the chemical and biochemical effects of mercury, acadmium and lead is presented and the means available to identify their biochemical sites of action are discussed.
Abstract: A review is presented of the chemical and biochemical effects of mercury, acadmium and lead. Similarities and diversities are emphasized and the means available to identify their biochemical sites of action are discussed. Toxic effects and alterations in enzyme activity are described. 551 references.
1,408 citations
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