Saeed Kaynat, Abdullah Sajid, Yaqoob Muhammad, Fatima Minahal, Majeed Zunaira, Ismail Muhammad, Ghanem Sara F, Eissa Moaheda E H, Hassanien Hesham, Abdul Kari Zulhisyam, Eissa El-Sayed Hemdan
Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, NIOF, Cairo, Egypt.
Biometals. 2025 Sep 5. doi: 10.1007/s10534-025-00737-y.
Bioaccumulation of metals and metalloids in marine environments poses a significant risk to both human and aquatic health, with seasonal fluctuations substantially influencing its dynamics and magnitude. This study investigated the impact of metals and metalloids exposure on the health of Wallago attu (Wallago catfish) and Catla catla (Indian carp) inhabiting the Head Siphon, Mailsi, Pakistan. This study involved the seasonal (May 2022, October 2022, April 2023) assessment of physicochemical properties and the concentrations of several metals and metalloids-copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe)-in water samples. Additionally, we evaluated hematological indices and antioxidant enzyme such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) in both fish species. Our analysis revealed seasonal variations in water quality and metal/metalloid concentrations. The results indicate summer exhibited the highest metal concentrations, following the trend: Cu > Zn > Fe > Cd > Cr > As > Ni. Specifically, Cu peaked in summer, Cr and Ni remained relatively stable, Cd decreased from summer to winter/spring, and Zn mirrored Cu trends, while Fe significantly reduced in winter. Several trace elements and water parameters (pH, nitrate) exceeded USEPA permissible limits, indicating water quality deterioration and potential ecological risks. Antioxidant enzyme profiling revealed species-specific oxidative stress responses. In W. attu, SOD varied distinctly across organs and seasons, with unique winter CAT trends suggesting complex antioxidant defense mechanisms. C. catla displayed elevated SOD, POD, and CAT levels, indicative of a robust stress response. Species-specific hematological variations, potentially indicative of metal/metalloid contamination, were observed. Notably, increased white blood cell counts in spring suggested pollutant-induced immune responses. This study reveals a complex interplay between environmental stressors and fish health, showing that exposure to metals and metalloids can cause adverse physiological effects in W. attu and C. catla. These findings are important because they suggest a potential risk to human health through the consumption of contaminated fish.
海洋环境中金属和类金属的生物累积对人类和水生生物健康都构成重大风险，季节性波动会显著影响其动态变化和累积程度。本研究调查了金属和类金属暴露对栖息于巴基斯坦迈尔西头虹吸处的瓦氏魾（瓦氏鲶鱼）和印度鯝（印度鲤鱼）健康的影响。本研究涉及对2022年5月、2022年10月、2023年4月这三个季节的水样进行物理化学性质以及几种金属和类金属——铜（Cu）、铬（Cr）、砷（As）、镉（Cd）、镍（Ni）、锌（Zn）和铁（Fe）浓度的评估。此外，我们还评估了这两种鱼类的血液学指标以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）等抗氧化酶。我们的分析揭示了水质和金属/类金属浓度的季节性变化。结果表明，夏季金属浓度最高，顺序为：Cu＞Zn＞Fe＞Cd＞Cr＞As＞Ni。具体而言，Cu在夏季达到峰值，Cr和Ni相对稳定，Cd从夏季到冬季/春季下降，Zn与Cu趋势一致，而Fe在冬季显著降低。几种微量元素和水参数（pH值、硝酸盐）超过了美国环境保护局的允许限值，表明水质恶化和潜在的生态风险。抗氧化酶分析揭示了物种特异性的氧化应激反应。在瓦氏魾中，SOD在不同器官和季节有明显差异，冬季CAT呈现独特趋势，表明存在复杂的抗氧化防御机制。印度鯝的SOD、POD和CAT水平升高，表明其应激反应强烈。观察到了物种特异性的血液学变化，这可能表明存在金属/类金属污染。值得注意的是，春季白细胞计数增加表明存在污染物诱导的免疫反应。本研究揭示了环境应激源与鱼类健康之间的复杂相互作用，表明金属和类金属暴露会对瓦氏魾和印度鯝造成不良生理影响。这些发现很重要，因为它们表明食用受污染鱼类可能对人类健康构成潜在风险。
