Metal Bioaccumulation in the Gill, Liver, and Muscle of Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) From the Northeastern Mediterranean and Human Health Risk Assessment Associated with Their Seasonal Consumption

Combined exposure to microplastics and copper elicited size-dependent uptake and toxicity responses in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia)

In recent years, the toxicity of microplastics (MPs) in combination with heavy metals, particularly the influence of varying microplastic sizes on their toxic effects, has attracted widespread attention. In this study, red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia) were exposed to MPs of two particle sizes (S-MPs: 5 μm, 1 mg/L; and L-MPs: 100 μm, 1 mg/L) and Cu (5 mg/L) individually or in combination for 96 h. The accumulation patterns of MPs were as follows: gills > intestines > hepatopancreas > muscles. Moreover, the accumulation pattern of Cu was as follows: intestines > gills > hepatopancreas > muscle. Additionally, S-MPs and L-MPs enhanced Cu accumulation, with the highest levels observed in the S-MPs+Cu-treated group. Histopathological analysis showed that the combined exposure led to greater hepatopancreatic damage. Assessment of antioxidant enzymes showed decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione among the different treatments, except for malondialdehyde, which was elevated compared to the control group. In the S-MPs+Cu-treated group, the expression levels of Cu homeostasis genes (MTF-1, ATP2, Atox1, MT) were significantly lower than those in the Cu treated group. This study provides a valuable reference for studying the combined toxic effects of MPs with varying particle sizes on heavy metals.

Microelements, Fatty Acid Profile, and Selected Biomarkers in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Muscle Tissue: Seasonal Variations and Health Risk Assessment

The study assesses associations between microelement levels, fatty acid composition, and oxidative stress markers in grass carp muscle in the summer and autumn seasons. Additionally, various factors were considered, including the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ), and metal pollution index (MPI), to evaluate potential health risks for consumers. The microelements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and total mercury was determined using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS). Fatty acid profiling was realized using gas chromatography (GC) detection with a flame ionization detector (FID). The overall tendency of microelement levels was as follows: Fe > Zn > Al > Sr > Ba > Ni > Se > Cr> Cu > Mn > Pb > As > Li > Hg; Collapse

Key Words

• Biomarker
• Biomonitoring
• Dorsal muscle
• FAs
• Freshwater fish
• Risk assessment
• Trace elements

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Fatty Acids/metabolism
• Fatty Acids/analysis
• Carps/metabolism
• Seasons
• Biomarkers/metabolism
• Biomarkers/analysis
• Muscles/metabolism
• Muscles/chemistry
• Trace Elements/analysis
• Trace Elements/metabolism
• Risk Assessment
• Oxidative Stress

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Grants

• Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

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Affiliation(s)

Anton Kovacik Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Marek Helczman Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Julius Arvay Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Marian Tomka Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic.
Marek Snirc Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Ivona Janco AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Martin Fik Institute of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Nikola Stefunkova Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Rudolf Dupak Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic Reprofit International s.r.o., Hlinky 48/122, Pisarky, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic
Lubos Harangozo Institute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Katarina Tokarova Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Eva Kovacikova AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Tomas Jambor Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Jaroslav Andreji Institute of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Peter Massanyi Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic

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Collaborators Collapse

Seasonal Changes in the Elemental Composition of Five Valuable Fish Species (Sparidae) from Bozcaada, North Aegean Sea: A Health Risk and Nutritional Benefit Assessment

This study investigates the seasonal variations in the elemental composition of five economically valuable Sparidae fish species from Bozcaada, North Aegean: red seabream (Pagrus major), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), saddled seabream (Oblada melanura), white seabream (Diplodus sargus), and common dentex (Dentex dentex), with a focus on both essential minerals and toxic metals. Fish samples (n = 10 per species per season) were collected across four seasons, and their weights and lengths were recorded. The concentrations of elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, chromium, nickel, selenium, cadmium, and mercury were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The elemental concentrations varied as follows: Ca (11,388.46-55,470.76), K (17,230.83-27,594.86), Mg (1436.02-2326.73), Na (1962.30-7847.41), P (13,112.11-15,516.57), Fe (107.61-282.00), Cu (36.44-59.13), Mn (6.19-19.87), Zn (98.67-256.26), Cr (4.54-11.96), Ni (6.33-13.89), Se (0.82-7.33), Cd (0.08-0.32), and Hg (0.08-1.50) mg/kg. Health risk assessments, including Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Cancer Risk (CR), were calculated for both adult and child consumers. The results showed that while the essential minerals remained within safe limits, seasonal variations in the concentrations of toxic metals could pose potential health risks, particularly with frequent consumption. This research provides valuable insights into balancing the nutritional benefits and safety of fish from Bozcaada, offering recommendations for informed consumption and public health policies aimed at optimizing benefits while minimizing risks.

Combining microbiome and pseudotargeted metabolomics revealed the alleviative mechanism of Cupriavidus sp. WS2 on the cadmium toxicity in Vicia unijuga A.Br

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is one of the most severe toxic metals pollution in grassland. Vicia unijuga (V. unijuga) A.Br. planted nearby the grassland farming are facing the risk of high Cd contamination. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of a highly Cd tolerant rhizosphere bacterium, Cupriavidus sp. WS2, on Cd contaminated V. unijuga. Through plot experiments, we set up four groups of treatments: the control group (without WS2 or Cd), the Cd group (with only Cd addition), the WS2 group (with only WS2 addition), and the WS2/Cd group (with WS2 and Cd addition), and analyzed the changes in physiological indicators, rhizosphere microorganisms, and stem and leaf metabolites of V. unijuga. Results of physiological indicators indicated that Cupriavidus sp. WS2 had strong absorption and accumulation capacity of Cd, exogenous addition of strain WS2 remarkably decreased the Cd concentrations, and increased the plant heights, the biomass, the total protein concentrations, the chlorophyll contents and the photosynthetic rate in stems and leaves of V. unijuga under Cd stress. Cd treatment increased the abundance of Cd tolerant bacterial genera in rhizosphere microbiome, but these genera were down-regulated in the WS2/Cd group. Pseudotargeted metabolomic results showed that six common differential metabolites associated with antioxidant stress were increased after co-culture with WS2. In addition, WS2 activated the antioxidant system including glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), reduced the contents of oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in V. unijuga under Cd stress. Taken together, this study revealed that Cupriavidus sp.WS2 alleviated the toxicity of V. unijuga under Cd exposure by activating the antioxidant system, increasing the antioxidant metabolites, and reducing the oxidative stress markers.

Effects of dietary minerals deficiency and supplementation on different parts of muscle minerals content in grazing Mongolian sheep

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of dietary deficiency and supplementation of calcium, zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese or selenium on minerals content in the longissimus dorsi (LD), biceps femoris (BF) and triceps brachii (TB) of grazing Mongolian sheep.

Methods

We randomly divided 98 sheep into 7 treatment groups and fed them specific diets for 60 days: a total mineral nutrition diet (LCG), a calcium deficiency diet (LCa), a zinc deficiency diet (LZn), a copper deficiency diet (LCu), a cobalt deficiency diet (LCo), a manganese deficiency diet (LMn) and a selenium deficiency diet (LSe). Then 7 sheep from each group were slaughtered and samples of LD, BF and TB were collected for mineral content analysis. The remaining sheep in each group were subsequently fed specific diets for an additional 41 days: a total mineral nutrition diet (SCG), a calcium supplementation diet (SCa), a zinc supplementation diet (SZn), a copper supplementation diet (SCu), a cobalt supplementation diet (SCo), a manganese supplementation diet (SMn) and a selenium supplementation diet (SSe). Afterward, all sheep were slaughtered, and muscle samples were collected and analyzed.

Results

Significant findings emerged that LCa decreased sulfur (S) content in BF and increased Ca content in LD and BF, while SCa increased S and Ca content in BF and TB, respectively (P < 0.05). LZn decreased Zn, S, and potassium (K) content in LD and BF, while SZn increased Zn and S content in LD and BF, respectively (P < 0.05). LCu decreased Cu and iron (Fe) content in LD and TB, while SCu increased Fe content in TB (P < 0.05). LCo decreased phosphorus, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn content in LD (P < 0.05). LMn decreased Mn content and increased K content in TB, while SMn decreased K content in BF and TB (P < 0.05). LSe and SSe decreased and increased Se content in LD, BF, and TB, respectively (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dietary mineral levels have varying effects on lamb meat minerals content. It is important to ensure an adequate intake of minerals in the diet to enhance the mineral nutrition of lamb meat.

Kynurenic acid mediates bacteria-algae consortium in resisting environmental cadmium toxicity

Cadmium (Cd²⁺) is a toxic heavy metal in the environment, posing severe damage to animal health and drinking water safety. The bacteria-algae consortium remediates environmental Cd²⁺ pollution by secreting chelating reagents, but the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we showed that Cellulosimicrobium sp. SH8 isolated from a Cd²⁺-polluted lake could interact with Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, a model species of cyanobacteria, in strengthening Cd²⁺ toxicity resistance, while SH8 or PCC6803 alone barely immobilized Cd²⁺. In addition, the SH8-PCC6803 consortium, but not SH8 alone, could grow in a carbon-free medium, suggesting that autotrophic PCC6803 enabled the growth of heterotrophic SH8. Totally, 12 metabolites were significantly changed when SH8 was added to PCC6803 culture in the presence of Cd²⁺ (PCC6803/Cd²⁺). Among them, kynurenic acid was the only metabolite that precipitated Cd²⁺. Remarkably, adding kynurenic acid increased the growth of PCC6803/Cd²⁺ by 14.1 times. Consistently, the expressions of kynA, kynB, and kynT genes, known to be essential for kynurenic acid synthesis, were considerably increased when SH8 was added to PCC6803/Cd²⁺. Collectively, kynurenic acid secreted by SH8 mitigates Cd²⁺ toxicity for algae, and algae provide organic carbon for the growth of SH8, unveiling a critical link that mediates beneficial bacteria-algae interaction to resist Cd²⁺.

Bioaccumulation and human health risk assessment of some heavy metals in sediments, Sparus aurata and Salicornia europaea in Güllük Lagoon, the south of Aegean Sea

In the current study, it was aimed to determine the sediment in Sparus aurata (Linnaeus 1758) tissues and Salicornia europaea L. Cu, Zn Fe, Hg, Cd, Pb and Mn concentration distributions in Güllük Lagoon which is located in the south of Aegean Sea and under the influence of anthropogenic activities by means of metal pollution and health indices and to investigate the effects of these metals on public health. The concentration range of Cu, Zn, Fe, Hg, Cd, Pb and Mn in sediment samples was determined as 12.16-26.00, 1.62-2.03, 7.77-8.36, 7.52-16.15, 0.071-0.40, 7.99-13.74 and 12.11-12.63 mg kg^-1, respectively. Cu and Hg concentrations in sediment were found to be higher than sediment quality guidelines standards. In addition, according to the enrichment factor (EF), Hg, Cd and Cu were found to show above moderate enrichment. Cu, Zn, Fe, Hg, Cd and Mn concentrations in S. aurata muscle tissue were 1.31 ± 2.30, 1.01 ± 0.24, 3.43 ± 0.75, 2.79 ± 0.85, 0.01 ± 0.01 and 1.80 ± 1.12 mg kg^-1, respectively. S. europaea heavy metals (HMs) concentrations were determined as Cu = 10.97 ± 3.20, Zn = 0.74 ± 0.62, Fe = 5.69 ± 0.22, Hg = 9.62 ± 8.84, Cd = 0.53 ± 0.33, Pb = 0.22 ± 0.26 and Mn = 8.61 ± 0.14 mg kg^-1. It was seen that Hg in S. aurata muscle tissue and Hg in S. europaea concentrations exceeded the limit values determined for consumption purposes. Target hazard quotient (THQ) and total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) values were found to be < 1 for S. aurata and S. europaea. When all these results were considered, it was determined that the metals that could pose a potential ecological and health risk were Hg, Cd and Cu in the study area.

Potentially Harmful Elements Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Edible Fish Tissues Caught from the Phander Valley, Northern Pakistan

This study investigated the concentrations of potentially harmful elements (PHE) in edible tissues of trout fish (Salmo trutta) in the Phander Valley, Northern Pakistan. For this purpose, fish were sampled from the Phander Valley (Gilgit River and Phander Lake). PHE concentrations in edible fish tissues (muscle, fins, and skin) were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS, AAnalyst 700, Perkin Elmer, USA). Among PHE, zinc (Zn) showed the highest concentration of 1097 μg/kg in the skin, followed by manganese (Mn) of 241 μg/kg in the muscle, and the lowest of 3.78 μg/kg for cadmium (Cd) in fins. The concentration of PHE in fish tissues of the study area was observed within the threshold limits set by the food and agriculture organization (FAO). PHE concentration of fish tissues was used for the calculation of chronic risk assessment using the chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) indices. The highest CDI values were observed for Zn through fish tissue consumption in juveniles, followed by Mn, and the lowest for Cd in adults. The HQ values were observed less than 1 for adults through PHE consumption in fish tissue; however, that of juvenile surpassed the threshold limit through Cd consumption in all studied tissues and that of Pb in the muscle and skins only. Higher HQ values than the threshold limit could pose a potential chronic risk to the exposed community. Spearman's non-parametric correlation showed a varying degree of correlation among PHE in fish tissues and canonical discriminant analyses were used to differentiate the tissues based on PHE accumulation tendencies.