Contamination by Trace Elements and Oxidative Stress in the Skeletal Muscle of Scyliorhinus canicula from the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

Abstract

Marine pollution, due to the regular discharge of contaminants by various anthropogenic sources, is a growing problem that imposes detrimental influences on natural species. Sharks, because of a diet based on smaller polluted animals, are exposed to the risk of water contamination and the subsequent bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Trace elements are very diffuse water pollutants and able to induce oxidative stress in a variety of marine organisms. However, to date, studies on sharks are rather scarce and often limited to mercury. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the accumulation of trace elements and their putative correlation with the onset of an oxidative status in the muscle of the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, from the Central Mediterranean Sea. Ecotoxicological analysis detected the presence of Pb, As, Cd, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Fe; no significant differences were observed between sexes, while a negative correlation was found between Pb and animal length. Analysis of oxidative stress markers showed either positive or negative correlation with respect to the presence of trace elements. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) positively correlated with Zn, Ni, and Fe; SOD enzyme activity negatively correlated with Cu and Ni; LDH was negatively correlated with Fe and positively correlated with Pb. Moreover, positive correlations between the leukocyte count and Mn and Zn, as well as with LDH activity, were also observed. The data suggested that, in sharks, trace elements accumulation may affect oxidant and antioxidant processes with important outcomes for their physiology and health.

Effects of cooking methods and co-ingested foods on mercury bioaccessibility in pontic shad (Alosa immaculata)

“…Nevertheless, consuming fish may expose people to heavy metals ( Merola et al, 2021 ; Shahjahan et al, 2022 ; Shiry et al, 2021 ). Fish have the potential to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at increased doses than the environment due to absorption along the gill surface, kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal tract wall ( Cahova et al, 2023 ; Filice et al, 2023 ; Impellitteri et al, 2023 ; Pradhoshini et al, 2023 ; Saha et al, 2023 ). Some dangerous heavy metals are not metabolized by the fish body and build up in the soft tissues, where they are amplified by the biomagnification process ( Tahity et al, 2022 ).…”

The odd couple: Caffeine and microplastics. Morphological and physiological changes in Mytilus galloprovincialis

“…To capture the real environmental scenario, studies on the pharmaceutical effects must account for potential interactions between various stressors and the resulting modulation of responses. Consequently, the application of multiple stressor model exposures has gained popularity in aquatic ecotoxicology (Arrigo et al, 2023; Banaee et al, 2022; Banaee, Faraji, et al, 2023; Banaee, Impellitteri, et al, 2023; Burgos‐Aceves et al, 2021a, 2021b; Filice et al, 2023; Khoma et al, 2021; Mezzelani et al, 2023).…”

“…Consequently, the application of multiple stressor model exposures has gained popularity in aquatic ecotoxicology (Arrigo et al, 2023;Banaee et al, 2022;Banaee, Faraji, et al, 2023;Banaee, Impellitteri, et al, 2023;Burgos-Aceves et al, 2021a, 2021bFilice et al, 2023;Khoma et al, 2021;Mezzelani et al, 2023).…”

Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Elements in Water and Sediment and the Tissues of Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) from the Coast of Callao Bay, Peru

“…These elements can bioaccumulate and biomagnify along the aquatic food chain through a variety of pathways, including respiration, adsorption, and ingestion [ 4 , 5 ]. The biomagnification phenomenon of potentially toxic elements in fish up the food chain is of interest to several studies [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]; since this ability can pose animal or human health risks through toxicity [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”