Ecological risk assessment of a contaminated stream using multi-level integrated biomarker response in Carassius auratus

摘要

AbstractThe goal of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of wastewater effluents on freshwater crucian carp,Carassius auratus, inhabiting Sincheon stream using the integrated biomarker response (IBR) at the genotoxic (micronucleus [MN] test), oxidative stress (activity of catalase [CAT] and glutathioneS-transferase [GST], and level of lipid peroxidation [LPO]), histopathological (degree of tissue changes [DTC]), and physiological (condition factor [CF] and liver somatic index [LSI]) levels. The CF and LSI were significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in fish from downstream sites (DS1 and DS2) as compared to that of upstream (US) fish samples. Moreover, a significant increase in morphometric indices (DTC) was observed inC. auratuscollected from downstream sites (p < 0.05) and histopathological responses showed the degree of pathogenicity in the order of liver > kidney > gills. The activities of CAT, GST, and LPO in fish from the DS1 and DS2 sites were notably increased in gills, liver, and kidney compared to that of fish from the US site. Additionally, the MN test level inC. auratusfrom the DS1 and DS2 were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when compared with that of the US site. Considering the higher bioaccumulation of Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Pb in gills, liver, and kidney ofC. auratuscollected from downstream sites compared to that of the upstream site (p < 0.05), the observed toxicity was likely attributable to metal accumulation. The multi-level IBR index was higher at the DS1 site (15.08) than at the DS2 (1.02) and the reference US (0.00) sites. Therefore, these findings demonstrated that wastewater effluent discharge induces significant DNA damage, oxidative stress, and tissue injuries inC. auratusand suggested that the multi-level IBR approach should be used to quantify these effects on fish in streams and rivers.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Effluent discharge induced various biomarker responses in freshwater crucian carp.•The biomarker response had higher values at downstream sites than at upstream site.•Multi-level IBR index is a powerful tool to monitor aquatic pollutionin situ.Multi-level IBR index is a powerful tool to quantify the effect of effluent discharge on DNA damage, oxidative stress, and tissue injuries in freshwater crucian carp.