Prospects of fish scale and fin samples usage for nonlethal monitoring of metal contamination: a study on five fish species from the Danube River

Abstract

The development of nonlethal methods for the monitoring of environmental contamination is essential to minimize the negative effects on studied species and communities. Fish scales and fin clips can be used as nonlethal indicators of water quality given that they are in direct contact with the environment and can accumulate high concentrations of metals and trace elements. Fin clipping causes minimal harm to fish and it does not affect fish growth or survival. In this study, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn concentrations were measured by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in scales, fins, and muscle of common bream (Abramis brama), white bream (Blicca bjoerkna), wels catfish (Silurus glanis), northern pike (Esox lucius), and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) from the Danube River. The analysis showed a positive correlation for Hg between scales and muscle in pikeperch. Anal fin and muscle were positively correlated in white bream for Hg, in wels catfish for Cu, and in northern pike and pikeperch for As. The results suggest that scales and fins have a potential to be used as indicators of muscle tissue contamination with As, Cu, and Hg, depending on species' ecological traits.

Metal levels in Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758) and their health risk assessment for consumers

“…Finally, Fe values were found to be similar to Ça glak & Karslı(2014). However, it was found higher thanKhemis et al (2017), Jovičić et al (2023,Göksu et al (2003), andÖzparlak et al (2012) studies, but lower than other studies (Exhibit 5).…”

“…(2012), and Çağlak & Karslı (2014); higher than Jovičić et al. (2023); and lower than the other studies. The Hg values determined in this study are lower than all the values given in Exhibit 5.…”

Effects of Trace Elements on the Fatty Acid Composition in Danubian Fish Species

“…Changes in lipid metabolism and profiles of FA have been used to better understand how pollution affects organisms in aquatic food webs and as an integrative biochemical response to contaminant exposure and accumulation in aquatic organisms [ 22 ] involving several studies with metals [ 25 , 26 ], making them promising biomarkers for contaminant exposure assessment. Previous studies with metals support the use of lipid metabolism and FA profiles as valuable biomarkers to assess contaminant exposure [ 22 , 25 , 26 ], while most studies have focused exclusively on the accumulation of metals or on analyzing the composition of FA [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Content of Fatty Acids in Relation to the Metal Concentration in the Muscle of Two Freshwater Fish Species

“…Previous studies with metals support the use of lipid metabolism and FA profiles as valuable biomarkers for assessing contaminant exposure [20,23,24]. Most of the studies deal exclusively with the accumulation of heavy metals or compositional analysis of FA [25][26][27][28]. In this context, the primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of bioaccumulation of untreated municipal wastewater on the FA content of roach and white bream.…”