What can Multi-Biomarker Approach Tells Us about the Impact of Pollution on Freshwater Biota Health?

Year 2018, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 125 - 131, 30.06.2018

Valbona Aliko Valon Morina Eldores Sula

Abstract

The
health of freshwater ecosystems and their biota exposed to continuous
detrimental effects of environmental contaminants can be better assessed by
integrating analytical chemical analysis with carefully selected biological
endpoints measured in tissues of species of concern. These biological endpoints
include molecular, biochemical and physiological markers (i.e. biomarkers) that
when integrated, can clarify issues of contaminant bioavailability,
bioaccumulation and ecological effects while enabling a better understanding of
the effects of non-chemical stressors.  Here, a battery of biomarkers, devised to measure
cellular damage, antioxidant enzyme activity and physiological impairment, were
combined with chemical analysis of water column, sediment and tissue, to
determine exposure to and the effects of pollution at sites within Sitnica
River (Kosovo). Carp fish, Cyprinus
carpio, collected in situ through
electrofishing were used as test species to determine the possible alterations
in biochemical and physiological biomarkers. Our results confirmed a
significant increase of hepatic alanine
transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), glutathione-S-transferase
(GST), catalase (CAT) and superoxide-dismutase (SOD) in blood. Both, blood
glucose (GLU) and cortisol concentration were also significantly increased.
Alteration in liver histological structure, increased in the frequency of
micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (ENA) in erythrocytes, were the most
discriminating biomarkers among sites. This holistic approach to environmental assessment is encouraged as it
helps to identify the integrated impact of chemical contamination on organisms
and to provide a realistic measure of environmental quality.

Keywords

Multi-biomarker approach, Freshwater biota health, Pollution

References

• Aliko V, (2008) Comparative blood morphology in the peripheral blood films from different vertebrate classes with an adaptation and evolutionary approach. Proceedings of Int. Confer.Biolo. & Environ. Sci., pp:19-27.
• Aliko V, Sula E, (2011) Study of fish stress physiology through evaluation of physiological and biochemical biomarkers in blood. Master Thesis. 50 pg.
• Berisha L, Arbneshi, T, Rugova, M, (2008) The level concentration of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc and phenols in water of Sitnica River, J. Int. Balwois. Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia.
• Čalić V, Miosic N, Cencic K, Zdenka P, Mladen P, Nena P, Rugova A, Arbneshi T, (2005) Pollution of river sediments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo with polychlorinated biphenyls. 25th International Symposium on Halogenated Environmental Organic Pollutants and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)-DIOXIN.
• Carrasco KR, Tilbury KL, Myers MS, (1990) Assessment of the piscine micronucleus test as an in situ biological indicator of chemical contaminant effects. Can Aquat Sci.; 47:2123–2136.
• Chovanec, A., Hofer, R., Schiemer, F., 2003, Fish as bioindicator. In: Markert, B.A., Breure, A.M., Zechmeister, H.G. (Eds.), Bioindicators and Biomonitors. Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford (Chapter 18).
• Dakonta, (2009) Consulting services for environmental assessment and remedial action plan for Mitrovica Industrial Park, Kosovo, UNDP.
• Dhevakrishnan, R. and Zaman M. H., 2012, Effect of Cauvery River pollutants on histopathological alterations in gill and liver tissues of freshwater fish Labio rohita, Environmental Toxicology Int.J.Cur. Tr. Res.1/2:65-71.
• Ebrahimi, M., Taherianfard, M., 2011, The effects of heavy metals exposure on reproductive system of cyprinid fish from Kor River, Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 10/1:13-21.
• Falfushynska, H.I., Stolyar, O.B., 2009. Responses of biochemical markers in carp Cyprinus carpio from two field sites in Western Ukraine. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 72, 729–736.
• Ferreira, M., Moradas-Ferreira, P., Reis-Henriques, M.A., 2005. Oxidative stress biomarkers in two resident species, mullet (Mugil cephalus) and founder (Platichthys flesus), from a polluted site in River Douro Estuary, Portugal. Aquatic Toxicology, 71, 39–48.
• Frenzilli, G., Falleni, A., Scarcelli, V., Del Barga, I., Pellegrini, S., Savarino, G., Mariotti, V., Benedetti, M. Fattorini, D., Regoli, F., Nigro, M., 2008, Cellular responses in the cyprinid Leuciscus cephalus from a contaminated freshwater ecosystem. Aquatic Toxicology, 89, 188–196.
• Gashi, F., Franciskovic-Bilinski, S., Bilinski, H., Troni, N., Bacaj, M., Jusufi, F., 2011, Establishing monitoring network on Kosovo rivers: preliminary measurements on the four main rivers (Drini i Bardhe, Morava e Binqes, Lepenc and Sitnica). Environ. Monitoring & Assessment, 175, 1-4:279-289.
• Goldenfarb, P.B., Bowyer, F.P., Hall, E. and Brosious, E., 1971, Reproducibility in the hematology laboratory: the microhematocrit determination. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 56 (1), 35-39. PMid:5556212
• Hansen, P.D., 2003, Biomarkers. In: Markert, B.A., Breure, A.M., Zechmeister, H.G. (Eds.), Bioindicators and Biomonitors. Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford (Chapter 6).
• Jusufi, S., Arbneshi, T., Shehdula, M., Bacaj, M., 2004, Phenol Concentration in Sitnica River. Proceedings of the II Congress of Ecologist of the Republic of Macedonia, with J. Int. Environmental Application & Science, 3 (2): 66-73 Special issues of Macedonian Ecological Society Vol 6, pp 568 – 571. Published by Macedonian Ecological Society. Skopje.
• Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA). Report: The state of water in Kosovo. Retrieved, November 3, 2012: www.ammkrks.net/repository/docs/raporti_ujerave_2010-angl.pdf.
• Lavado, R., Urena, R., Martin-Skilton, R., Torreblanca, A., del Ramo, J., Raldu´ a, D., Porte, C., 2006, The combined use of chemical and biochemical markers to assess water quality along the Ebro River. Environmental Pollution, 139, 330–339.
• Linde-Arias, A.R., Ina´ cio, A.F., Novo, L.A., Alburquerque, C., Moreira, J.C., 2008b, Multibiomarker approach in fish to assess the impact of pollution in a large Brazilian river, Paraiba do Sul. Environmental Pollution, 156, 974– 979.
• Linde-Arias, A.R., Inacio, A.F., Alburquerque, C., Freire, M.M., Moreira, J.C., 2008a, Biomarkers in an invasive fish species, Oreochromis niloticus, to assess the effects of pollution in a highly degraded Brazilian River. Science of the Total Environment, 399, 186–192.
• Monteiro, V., Cavalcante, G.S.M., Vilela, M.B.F.A., Sofia, S.H., Martinez, C.B.R., 2011, In vivo and in vitro exposures for the evaluation of the genotoxic effects of lead on the neotropical freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus. Aquatic Toxicology, 104: 291-298.
• Morina, V., Aliko, V., Sula, E., Gavazaj, F., Kastrati, Dh., Cakaj, F., 2013, Histopathologic biomarkers of fish liver as good bioindicator of water pollution in Sitnica River, Kosovo. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Agriculture and Veterinary: 13/5:1-5.
• Ochei, J., Kolhatkar, A., 2005, Medical Laboratory Science: Theory and Practice. Tata McGraw – Hill Publishing Company, New Delhi, pp. 281–283.
• Ohe, T., Watanabe, T. and Wakabayashi, K., 2004, Mutagens in surface waters: a review. Mutation Research, vol. 567, p. 109-149.
• Pandey, S., Parvez, S., Sayeed, I., Haque, R., Bin-Hafeez, B., Raisuddin, S., 2003, Biomarkers of oxidative stress: a comparative study of river Yamuna fish Wallagoattu (Bl. & Schn.) Science of the Total Environment, 309, 105–115.
• Parvez, S., Pandey, S., Ali, M., Raisuddin, S., 2006, Biomarkers of oxidative stress in Wallagoattu (Bl. and Sch.) during and after a fish-kill episode at Panipat, India. Science of the Total Environment, 368, 627–636.
• Parvez, S., Raisuddin, S., (2005) Protein carbonyls: novel biomarkers of exposure to oxidative stress-inducing pesticides in freshwater fish Channa punctata (Bloch). Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 20, 112–117.
• Reddy P. B. and Baghel, B. S., 2012, Impact of industrial waste water on the Chambal River and biomarker responses in fish due to pollution at Nagda M.P. India. ISSN: 2277-5536 (Print version).
• Ruas, C.B.G., Carvalho, C.S., Araujo, H.S.S., Espındola, E.L.G., Fernandes, M.N., (2008) Oxidative stress biomarkers of exposure in the blood of cichlid species from a metal-contaminated river. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 71, 86–93.
• Schmid, W., 1975) The micronucleus test. Mutat. Res. 31: 9-15.
• Stehr, C.M., Johnson, LL., Myers, M.S., 1998, Hydropic vacuolation in the liver of three species of fish from the US West Coast: lesion description and risk assessment associated with contaminant exposure. PMID: 9676252.
• Sula, E., Aliko V, (2017a) Effects of stressors on hematological and immunological response in the fresh water crucian carp fish, Carassius carassius. Albanian J. Agric. Sci. (Special edition): 575 – 581.
• Sula, E., Aliko, V., (2017b) Pathological changes in liver morphology of Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) from Seferani Lake in Dumrea region. Albanian J. Agric. Sci. (Special edition): 583 – 590.
• Tejeda-Vera R, Lo´pez-Lo´pez E, Seden˜o-Dı´az JE, (2007) Biomarkers and bioindicators of the health condition of Am. Splen. & Goodea Atripinnis (Pisces: Goodeaidae) in the Ameca River, Mexico. Environ. Int., 33, 521–531.
• Van der Oost, R., Beyer, J., Vermeulen, N.P., 2003, Fish bioaccumulation and biomarkers in environmental risk assessment: a review. Environ. Toxi. & Pharm., 13, 57–149.