Arsenic-induced responses in freshwater teleosts

Abstract

The environment is currently polluted by thousands of chemicals or xenobiotics introduced into the environment by man to meet the demands of the modern era. Every day we encounter this negative side of human civilization, but have done little to lessen the rate of pollution. Although the entire biosphere is polluted it is water resources that are the most polluted because water is the ultimate sink for many contaminants. Thus, fish are the most vulnerable of all animal species. They are helpless because they cannot avoid the polluted habitat and face this contamination by default. Nevertheless, fish are found to survive under extreme conditions when their natural habitat has been compromised to a great extent. However, fish are highly sensitive to small environmental changes and their populations gradually dwindle if pollution continues unabated. However, we know that there are instances when water is cleaned and the rate of repopulation by different fish species has gained momentum, restoring the ecological balance. Thus, fish are considered reliable bioindicators of water pollution and fish ecotoxicology has received much attention in recent years, and fish toxicology has been able to defend a significant position in the arena of xenobiotics research over the years. This review deals with some of the major intoxication and detoxication signals manifested by fish exposed to arsenic (As), which is presently one of the most worrying metalloids in water pollution.

Multiple biomarkers responses in Prochilodus lineatus allowed assessing changes in the water quality of Salado River basin (Santa Fe, Argentina)

“…However, induced ROS could be not totally scavenged by the antioxidant enzymes due elevated levels of LPO (TBARS) observed in different organs (liver, gills and kidney) of fish at sites 1, 2 and 3. LPO alters the normal structural and functional properties of the cell, ultimately leading to cytotoxicity by dismantling the membrane structure in association with various adaptive reactions and changes in physiological status (Bhattacharya et al, 2007). Increased levels of LPO have been observed in fish under experimental conditions, upon exposure to different xenobiotics as well as stressful field conditions (López-López et al, 2006;Santos et al, 2006;Ballesteros et al, 2009).…”

Short-term arsenic exposure reduces diatom cell size in biofilm communities

“…Fish are highly sensitive to small environmental changes, and arsenic is considered to be one of the most toxic elements to them (Bhattacharya et al 2007). One fish species for which arsenic impacts have been demonstrated is the mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki (Newman et al 1989;Moeller et al 2003;Magellan et al 2014).…”

Mercury Induced Biochemical Alterations As Oxidative Stress In Mugil Cephalus In Short Term Toxicity Test

“…This induction in GST activity could indicate a defense of fish against oxidative stress damage produced by adverse conditions such as heavy metal contamination. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation(LPO) have been observed in fish under experimental conditions, upon exposure to different xenobiotics 43 . There are evidences that heavy metals like those used in the studied, produced increased LPO levels in M. cephalus 44 .…”