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Responses of biomarkers in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of complex metal mixture (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd). Part II

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to assess interactions between metals at low exposure concentrations (Maximum-Permissible-Concentrations accepted for the inland waters in EU) and to assess possible influence of background exposure (10-times reduced concentration of a single metal) on toxicological significance of selected biomarkers in Salmo salar after treatment with metal mixture (Zn – 0.1, Cu – 0.01, Ni – 0.01, Cr – 0.01, Pb – 0.005 and Cd – 0.005 mg/L). The tissue-specific bioaccumulation, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity responses (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities assay) in peripheral blood, kidneys, gills and liver erythrocytes of fish to metal mixtures were assessed after 14 days treatment. Treatment with primary mixture (MIX) or two variants of this mixture (Cr↓ (10 times reduced Cr6+ concentration) and Cu↓ (10 times reduced Cu2+ concentration)) induced the strongest responses in genotoxicity and cytotoxicity endpoints. Exposure to these mixtures highly affected Zn, Cu and Cd bioaccumulation in liver tissue. The highest amount of Ni accumulated was measured after Cd↓ treatment in all tissues. Treatments with reduced concentration of non-essential metal resulted in an increased accumulation of Pb, Ni, or Cd; treatments with reduced concentration of essential metal resulted in a reduced accumulation of certain metals (especially Cd and Pb) in tissues compared between treatments. Glucose content in blood and behavioural endpoints were evaluated after short-term exposure to metal mixtures (MIX, Cr↓, Cu↓). Significant increase in blood glucose concentration was measured after all treatments. These metal mixtures elicit significant behavioural alterations in fish. Consequently, this research revealed a significant influence of background exposure considering mixture toxicity.

Highlights

  • 10-fold reduction of mixtures components highly affected bioaccumulation of several metals in analysed tissues of Salmo salar.

  • Significant influence of background exposure considering mixture toxicity was detected.

  • Exposure to metal mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations elicited genotoxicity and cytotoxicity.

  • Alterations in glucose content in blood and behavioural responses were observed.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the research infrastructure Open Access Centre for Nature Research at the initiative of the Open R&D Lithuania network. This study was funded by the Research Council of Lithuania through the project ACTIS S-MIP-17-10. Metallothionein determination was funded by the Research Council of Lithuania, Project No. MIP-108/2015. We are thankful to Dalia Baršytė Lovejoy (Toronto University) for the language check. We are thankful to Liutauras Savičius for the production of the experimental aquariums for behavioural assay. The authors are grateful to Dr Kęstutis Arbačiauskas and Dr Eglė Šidagytė for the suggestions in data analysis.

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  1. Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, Vilnius, 08412, Lithuania

    Milda Stankevičiūtė, Gintarė Sauliutė, Tomas Makaras, Tomas Virbickas & Janina Baršienė

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, Vilnius, 10223, Lithuania

    Arvydas Markuckas

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  1. Milda Stankevičiūtė
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Correspondence to Milda Stankevičiūtė.

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Stankevičiūtė, M., Sauliutė, G., Makaras, T. et al. Responses of biomarkers in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of complex metal mixture (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd). Part II. Ecotoxicology 27, 1069–1086 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-018-1960-2

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