Metal determination and biochemical status of marine fishes facilitate the biomonitoring of marine pollution

Abstract

In the present study, the bioaccumulation of chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, arsenic, strontium, cadmium, tin, antimony and lead in tissues of thirty marine fish species collected from New Ferry Whorf, Sassoon dock and Versova fishing harbour in Mumbai, India, were analysed. The bioaccumulation pat- terns of these twelve elements were determined to assess pollution biomarkers based on cellular and oxidative stresses. Catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-s-transferase, glycolytic enzymes viz. lactate dehydro- genase and malate dehydrogenase, protein metabolism enzymes viz. aspartate transferase and alanine trans- ferase, and lipid peroxidation were significantly higher in muscle and gill tissues. The activities of the neurotransmitter enzyme acetylcholine esterase in muscle and brain tissues was inhibited due to pollution. This study suggested that biochemical attributes such as oxidative stress enzymes, cellular biomarkers, neurotrans- mitter enzymes and metal and metalloid contamination could be successfully employed, even at low concen- trations, as reliable biomarkers for biomonitoring of contaminated marine ecosystems.