Heavy Metals Concentrations and Human Health Risk Assessment for Three Common Species of Fish from Karkheh River, Iran

A comprehensive health risk assessment associated with bioaccumulation of heavy metals and nutrients in selected macrophytes of Loktak Lake, Manipur, India

The Loktak Lake, a Ramsar site in Northeast India, is known for its rich biodiversity that includes a variety of macrophyte species, most of which have not been studied for their phytoremediation capacities and potential toxicity via consumption of the edible species. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment was conducted to evaluate the accumulation of selected heavy metals and nutrients in 10 dominant macrophyte species growing in Loktak Lake and to assess the potential health risks associated with consumption of the edible plants. The concentrations of nutrients such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and heavy metals such as copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) were found to be in the order of plant > sediment > water. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) revealed high efficiency of most plants to accumulate heavy metals and nutrients in their tissues from the lake water and sediments, indicating their potential to be used as phytoremediators. Translocation factors (TFs) were also estimated to determine the efficiency of the plants to translocate elements from root to shoot. Colocasia esculenta and Polygonum perfoliatum exhibited the highest BAF values, whereas Colocasia esculenta, Hedychium flavum, Phragmites karka, and Oenanthe javanica exhibited the highest TF values for most elements. Target hazard quotients (THQs) revealed potential health risks associated with one or more heavy metals in the plants, except for Zn, whose THQ values were below the level of concern in all the edible plant species. The hazard index (HI) signifying potential non-carcinogenic health risk from the combined effects of all the heavy metals was highest for Polygonum perfoliatum, indicating a potentially higher risk to health if this edible macrophyte is regularly consumed in higher quantities and may pose long-term health effects to the exposed population.

Predicting the Trace Element Levels in Caspian Kutum (Rutilus kutum) from South of the Caspian Sea Based on Locality, Season and Fish Tissue

Elements are the shared result of the erosion of rocks in the catchment area and human activities. Nutritional habits, ecological needs, heavy metal concentrations in water and sediment, duration of fishing in the aquatic environment, fishing season, and physicochemical properties of water (salinity, pH, hardness, and temperature) are among the effective factors in the accumulation of heavy metals in various fish organs. In this study, 150 specimens of Rutilus kutum were collected from the southern shores of the Caspian Sea including Astara, Anzali, and Kiashahr in Guilan Province, Farahabad in Mazandaran Province, and Bandar Torkaman in Golestan Province from December 2018 through October 2019. It is possible to predict the metal concentrations using the variables such as fish tissue, sampling region, and season. Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to select the best regression model. We used fish muscle tissue and Anzali sampling site which were considered reference variables in the regression model. For some elements, a better model is obtained by considering all variables (AIC criterion is its lowest value). The best model obtained for Cu, Mn, and Si was only with region (as a variable). The best model obtained for Sn and Sr only concerns the region and tissue variables. The best model obtained for Sb only related to tissue variable. Using these models, environmental monitoring becomes easier and cheaper. We suggest further studies to be carried out in the shortest possible time along with the least laboratory cost.

Protective and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Origanum vulgare on oxidative stress, TNF-α gene expression and liver histological changes in paraquat-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

CONTEXT

Toxicity with paraquat can lead to serious damages to the liver.

OBJECTIVE

The study investigates the protective effects of Origanum vulgare leaf extract against paraquat liver damage.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Rats were divided into six groups. Group 1, the control group; group 2, rats that received paraquat only; group 3, rats that received paraquat plus silymarin; and groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated with paraquat and O. vulgare leaf extract. Then, the serum and tissue parameters of the oxidative stress were examined.

RESULTS

In group 2, paraquat caused a remarkable increase in the level of serum ALT, AST, ALP, lipid profiles, and liver TNF-α gene expression compared to group 1. The groups which received O. vulgare leaf extract exhibited significant ameliorations in abnormalities of paraquat-induced liver damage and serum biochemical parameters.

CONCLUSION

O. vulgare leaf extract has inhibitory effects on paraquat-induced liver damage due to its antioxidant properties.