Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems
The main aim of this study was to investigate total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and arsenic (As) concentrations, and their genotoxic effects on fish species in freshwater habitats impacted by gold mining activities in the Mojana and Bajo Cauca regions (Northern Colombia). A total of 255 indi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323001744 |
| _version_ | 1797869898362257408 |
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| author | Ángel Cruz-Esquivel Sergi Díez José Luis Marrugo-Negrete |
| author_facet | Ángel Cruz-Esquivel Sergi Díez José Luis Marrugo-Negrete |
| author_sort | Ángel Cruz-Esquivel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main aim of this study was to investigate total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and arsenic (As) concentrations, and their genotoxic effects on fish species in freshwater habitats impacted by gold mining activities in the Mojana and Bajo Cauca regions (Northern Colombia). A total of 255 individuals of Prochilodus magdalenae (PM) and Hoplias malabaricus (HM) were collected in different areas of northern Colombia, 205 in the exposed groups: Mojana 1 (61), Mojana 2 (81) and Bajo Cauca (63); and 50 individuals in the control group. Dorsal muscle was analysed for pollutants and blood to perform micronucleus (MN) and erythrocytic nuclear alterations (ENA) tests. The results of the MN revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) genetic damage in both PM (Mojana 1 = 29.7 ± 14.2; Mojana 2 = 25 ± 6.25; Bajo Cauca= 26.6 ± 10.6) and in HM (Mojana 1 = 17.7 ± 7.8; Mojana 2 = 20.4 ± 6.3; Bajo Cauca= 20.8 ± 9.8) compared to the control group (PM= 10.5 ± 3.6; HM= 9.1 ± 3.9). Likewise, the frequency of ENA was statistically higher in the exposed groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentrations of THg, MeHg and As found in tissue samples were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the control group, being the Bajo Cauca region the area of highest risk due to high concentrations of THg (651.2 ± 344.5 μg/kg for HM and 678.5 ± 983.9 μg/kg for PM) and MeHg (504.6 ± 220.9 μg/kg for HM and 606.8 ± 886.4 μg/kg for PM). Results showed that mean THg values for both species in Bajo Cauca exceeded the WHO maximum limit (set in 500 μg Hg/kg) in fish for human consumption. Results suggest that DNA damage in erythrocytes is associated with the presence of Hg, MeHg and As, coming from mining activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:19:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4bf2d568876147d89ac3197676f07859 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:19:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-4bf2d568876147d89ac3197676f078592023-03-16T05:01:17ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132023-03-01253114670Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystemsÁngel Cruz-Esquivel0Sergi Díez1José Luis Marrugo-Negrete2University of Córdoba, Carrera 6 No. 77–305, Montería, ColombiaEnvironmental Chemistry Department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain; Corresponding authors.University of Córdoba, Carrera 6 No. 77–305, Montería, Colombia; Corresponding authors.The main aim of this study was to investigate total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and arsenic (As) concentrations, and their genotoxic effects on fish species in freshwater habitats impacted by gold mining activities in the Mojana and Bajo Cauca regions (Northern Colombia). A total of 255 individuals of Prochilodus magdalenae (PM) and Hoplias malabaricus (HM) were collected in different areas of northern Colombia, 205 in the exposed groups: Mojana 1 (61), Mojana 2 (81) and Bajo Cauca (63); and 50 individuals in the control group. Dorsal muscle was analysed for pollutants and blood to perform micronucleus (MN) and erythrocytic nuclear alterations (ENA) tests. The results of the MN revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) genetic damage in both PM (Mojana 1 = 29.7 ± 14.2; Mojana 2 = 25 ± 6.25; Bajo Cauca= 26.6 ± 10.6) and in HM (Mojana 1 = 17.7 ± 7.8; Mojana 2 = 20.4 ± 6.3; Bajo Cauca= 20.8 ± 9.8) compared to the control group (PM= 10.5 ± 3.6; HM= 9.1 ± 3.9). Likewise, the frequency of ENA was statistically higher in the exposed groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentrations of THg, MeHg and As found in tissue samples were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the control group, being the Bajo Cauca region the area of highest risk due to high concentrations of THg (651.2 ± 344.5 μg/kg for HM and 678.5 ± 983.9 μg/kg for PM) and MeHg (504.6 ± 220.9 μg/kg for HM and 606.8 ± 886.4 μg/kg for PM). Results showed that mean THg values for both species in Bajo Cauca exceeded the WHO maximum limit (set in 500 μg Hg/kg) in fish for human consumption. Results suggest that DNA damage in erythrocytes is associated with the presence of Hg, MeHg and As, coming from mining activities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323001744MercuryArsenicMicronucleusErythrocytic nuclear alterationsColombia |
| spellingShingle | Ángel Cruz-Esquivel Sergi Díez José Luis Marrugo-Negrete Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Mercury Arsenic Micronucleus Erythrocytic nuclear alterations Colombia |
| title | Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| title_full | Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| title_short | Genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| title_sort | genotoxicity effects in freshwater fish species associated with gold mining activities in tropical aquatic ecosystems |
| topic | Mercury Arsenic Micronucleus Erythrocytic nuclear alterations Colombia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323001744 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelcruzesquivel genotoxicityeffectsinfreshwaterfishspeciesassociatedwithgoldminingactivitiesintropicalaquaticecosystems AT sergidiez genotoxicityeffectsinfreshwaterfishspeciesassociatedwithgoldminingactivitiesintropicalaquaticecosystems AT joseluismarrugonegrete genotoxicityeffectsinfreshwaterfishspeciesassociatedwithgoldminingactivitiesintropicalaquaticecosystems |