Micro-computed tomography for analysis of heavy metal accumulation in the opercula

• Published in: Micron (Oxford, England : 1993) England : 1993), 2022-09, Vol.160, p.103327-103327, Article 103327
• Main Authors: Panek, Dominik, Leszczyński, Bartosz, Wojtysiak, Dorota, Drąg-Kozak, Ewa, Stępień, Ewa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Fish; Heavy metals; Micro-computed tomography; Micro-CT; Operculum
• ISSN: 0968-4328; 1878-4291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103327

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) provides numerous opportunities in biomedical research. It allows the examination of samples in a non-destructive manner and visualization of the inner structures of various biological and nonbiological objects. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of micro-CT scanner in the assessment of heavy metal accumulation in the opercula. The samples were taken from Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) exposed to waterborne Cd (4.0 mg/L), Zn (4.0 mg/L), and the mixture of these two metals (4.0 mg Cd/L and 4.0 mg Zn/L) for 28 days. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results demonstrated higher concentrations of Cd and Zn in the treatment group opercula samples compared with the control group opercula samples. A simple micro-CT scan was performed to verify whether heavy metal accumulation could be determined in the reconstructed images. The results showed that micro-CT is potentially a powerful tool for metal accumulation detection. Moreover, it allowed visualization of the examined samples, revealing regions of heavy metal accumulation and providing the opportunity to compare samples exposed to different types of heavy metals. •Micro-CT emerged as a tool, which can be used for heavy metal accumulation analysis on its own.•Operculum samples from Carassius gibelio were collected and then scanned using micro-CT.•Shift to the higher gray-scale value was observed in the histograms for metals with higher atomic number.•Visualization of reconstructed images clearly indicate the places of accumulation and differences between control group and groups contaminated with zinc, cadmium and mixture of zinc and cadmium.