Liver metallothionein of fish in rivers of Taiwan -- a field study on Erh-jen river
Erh-jen river in southern Taiwan is contaminated especially down stream with heavy metal effluent from nearby electroplate, metal surface treatment and used metal reclamation plants. Liver metallothionein content of five species of fish caught at 6 stations along the river was analyzed using silver saturation method. The most often found species down stream include Tilapia sp., Megalops cyprinoids and Liza macrolepis. The possibility of using fish liver metallothionein content to indicate heavy metal exposure was investigated in this study. Liver metallothionein content of 47 tilapia caught at 3 stations down stream is 81 + 8 {mu}g/g. Compared to the average of 10 + 1 {mu}g/g and 10 + 2 {mu}g/g of 6 and 9 tilapia caught at 2 control sites, this shows an increase of tilapia liver metallothionein content in Erh-jen river. 6 tilapia caught at pond beside Erh-jen river had significantly (p < 0.05) lower liver metallothionein content, which is 36 + 15 {mu}g/g. Liver metallothionein content of 33 Liza macrolepis caught at 3 stations down stream was 151 + 22 {mu}g/g, compared to 15 + 2 {mu}g/g of 9 samples caught at control site, this difference was also significant (p < 0.05). These results show the induction of liver metallothionein in fish of Erh-jen river. This study shows the applicability of fish liver metallothionein as a biomarker of heavy metal contamination in rivers in Taiwan.
- OSTI ID:
- 40080
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9520%%275
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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