To what extent are hepatic concentrations of heavy metals in Anguilla anguilla at a site in a contaminated estuary related to body size and age and reflected in the metallothionein concentrations?

Bird, D. J.; Rotchell, J. M.; Hesp, S. A.; Newton, L. C.; Hall, N. G.; Potter, I. C.

Abstract

We explored how hepatic [metal]s in Anguilla anguilla at a contaminated estuarine site are influenced by body size, age and season, and the extent that [Cu], [Cd] and [Zn]s are reflected in [metallothionein (MT)]s. Although each [metal] and [MT] increased significantly with length, weight and age, those biotic variables explained <10% of the variation in each [metal] and only 11-16% for [MT]. Seasonal changes in [Cu] and [Cd] were paralleled by [MT]. The variation in [MT] explained by Cu (42%) was greater than by Zn (16%) and Cd (13%), and seasonally lay between 43 and 69% for those metals collectively. Thus, hepatic [MT] in eels is closely correlated with hepatic [heavy metal]s. However, the great variability among [MT]s for eels of similar sizes and ages, which reflects marked variability in hepatic [heavy metal]s, means that this variable reflects imprecisely the contamination level at a particular site. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Bird, D. J., Rotchell, J. M., Hesp, S. A., Newton, L. C., Hall, N. G., & Potter, I. C. (2008). To what extent are hepatic concentrations of heavy metals in Anguilla anguilla at a site in a contaminated estuary related to body size and age and reflected in the metallothionein concentrations?. Environmental pollution, 151(3), 641-651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.03.018

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2007
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2007
• Publication Date: 2008-02
• Journal: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
• Print ISSN: 0269-7491
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 151
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 641-651
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.03.018
• Keywords: Eel; Metal concentration; Metallothionein; Body size; Season
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/400022
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749107001996?via%3Dihub