Evaluation of environmental quality of two estuaries in Ilha do Maranhão, Brazil, using histological and genotoxic biomarkers in Centropomus undecimalis (Pisces, Centropomidae)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2016-10, Vol.23 (20), p.21058-21069
• Main Authors: Cantanhêde, Sildiane Martins, da Silva Castro, Geane, Pereira, Natália Jovita, de Pinho Campos, Jonas Silva, da Silva, Juliana, Tchaicka, Lígia, Neta, Raimunda Nonata Fortes Carvalho, de Souza Torres, José Ribamar, Santos, Débora Martins Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic environment; Aquatic life; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biology; Biomarkers; Brazil; Catchment areas; Centropomus; Chemistry; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystem; Ecosystem biology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental quality; Environmental science; Environmental stress; erythrocytes; Estuaries; Female; Fish; Fish populations; Gills - pathology; Habitats; health effects assessments; histology; Laboratories; Lesions; Male; Metal concentrations; Metals - analysis; Micronucleus Tests; mutagens; Perciformes - anatomy & histology; Perciformes - genetics; Pollutants; Research Article; River basins; Rivers; species; Studies; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water sampling; watersheds
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7294-9

Estuaries are subjected to continual environmental impacts from activities in the catchment areas. This research assessed the quality of two estuarine habitats located in Ilha do Maranhão, Brazil, through histological and genotoxic biomarkers in Centropomus undecimalis , comparing the data obtained to metal, physical, and chemical concentrations of water samples. The gill histological alterations were analyzed by the histological alteration index and genotoxic lesions in erythrocytes were detected by the Micronucleus Test. The analysis of metals revealed that all water samples contained at least two elements with concentrations higher than that allowed by the current Brazilian law. For gill histological analysis, snook of both areas assessed exhibited moderate lesions, indicating that the local fish are affected by environmental stress. Micronucleus analysis of snook showed that the Bacanga river basin is the most affected. In addition to assessing the health of commercial fish populations, the information about the biomarkers used for the species can serve to contribute to the preparation and/or application of health assessment models and implementation of environmental recovery policies for coastal aquatic environments.