Acute toxicity of the water-soluble fraction of diesel in Prochilodus vimboides Kner (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

• Published in: Neotropical ichthyology Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 193 - 198
• Main Authors: Santos, CA, Lenz, D, Brandao, G P, Chippari-Gomes, A R, Gomes, L C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Prochilodus vimboides
• ISSN: 1679-6225; 1982-0224
• DOI: 10.1590/S1679-62252013000100022

Diesel oil can be a source of contamination in aquatic environments, mainly as a result of spills. The effects of the water-soluble fraction of diesel (WSF) on Prochilodus vimboides were assessed. Fish were exposed to three different WSF dilutions for up to 96 h and were compared to a control group. Damages in the fragments of DNA were analyzed using the Comet assay. The presence of erytrocyts abnormalities was assessed by micronucleus test. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and the accumulation of copper in gills were also analyzed. Fish exposed for 96 h had higher rates of damage than those exposed for 24 h. There was no significant difference regarding the presence of micronuclei between exposed and control fish and between 24-h and 96-h exposures. For AST, no significant difference was observed between samples collected at the two exposure times. Fish exposed to a 1:100 dilution of WSF showed higher activity of the enzyme ALT than the control fish after a 24-h exposure period. There was no bioaccumulation of copper in the gills. We conclude that the genotoxic effects of WSF in the cells are more evident in P. vimboides during an acute exposure.Original Abstract: O oleo diesel pode ser uma fonte de contaminacao em ambientes aquaticos, principalmente como resultado de derrames acidentais. Foram avaliados os efeitos da fracao soluvel do oleo diesel (FSO) em Prochilodus vimboides. Os peixes foram expostos a tres diferentes diluicoes da FSO por ate 96 horas e comparados com um grupo controle. Os danos nos fragmentos de DNA foram analisados utilizando o ensaio Cometa. A presenca de anormalidades nos eritrocitos foi avaliada pelo teste do micronucleo. A atividade da Aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e da acumulacao de cobre nas branquias tambem foram analisados. Os peixes expostos por 96 h tiveram maiores taxas de danos do que aqueles expostos por 24 h. Nao houve diferenca significativa quanto a presenca de micronucleos entre os peixes expostos e controle e entre 24 e 96 h exposicoes. Para AST, nao foi observada diferenca significativa entre as amostras coletadas em dois tempos de exposicao. Os peixes expostos a uma diluicao de 1:100 do FSO apresentaram maior atividade da enzima ALT do que os peixes do controle apos um periodo de exposicao de 24 horas. Nao houve bioacumulacao de cobre nas branquias. Os efeitos genotoxicos nas celulas foram os mais evidentes em P. vimboides durante a exposicao aguda a FSO