To what extent are hepatic concentrations of heavy metals in Anguilla anguilla at a site in a contaminated estuary related to body size and age and reflected in the metallothionein concentrations?

Bird, D.J., Rotchell, J.M., Hesp, S.A., Newton, L.C., Hall, N.G. and Potter, I.C. (2008) To what extent are hepatic concentrations of heavy metals in Anguilla anguilla at a site in a contaminated estuary related to body size and age and reflected in the metallothionein concentrations? Environmental Pollution, 151 (3). pp. 641-651.

Abstract

We explored how hepatic [metal]s in Anguilla anguilla at a contaminated estuarine site are influenced by body size, age and season, and the extent that [Cu], [Cd] and [Zn]s are reflected in [metallothionein (MT)]s. Although each [metal] and [MT] increased significantly with length, weight and age, those biotic variables explained <10% of the variation in each [metal] and only 11–16% for [MT]. Seasonal changes in [Cu] and [Cd] were paralleled by [MT]. The variation in [MT] explained by Cu (42%) was greater than by Zn (16%) and Cd (13%), and seasonally lay between 43 and 69% for those metals collectively. Thus, hepatic [MT] in eels is closely correlated with hepatic [heavy metal]s. However, the great variability among [MT]s for eels of similar sizes and ages, which reflects marked variability in hepatic [heavy metal]s, means that this variable reflects imprecisely the contamination level at a particular site.

Publication Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd.
Copyright:	© 2007 Elsevier Ltd.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/17437

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