Environmental quality of the Parana River Basing (Argentina): whole sediment toxicity test with fish

GONZALEZ, P.V.; ELORRIAGA, Y.; MARINO, D.J.; RONCO, A.E.; CARRIQUIRIBORDE, P.

Nashville

Congreso; SETAC- North America 34th Annual Meeting; 2013

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Survival, growth, condition factor (K), hepatosomatic (HSI) and gonadosomatic (GSI) index together with a suit of biomarkers were evaluated in Cyprinus carpio juveniles exposed during 30 d to whole sediments samples collected at the mouth of nine tributaries along the Parana River Basin. Sediments from the upper - Pilcomayo (PI), Bermejo (BE), Negro (NE), Corrientes (CO), Feliciano (FE) ? and the lower - Carcaraña (CA), San Lorenzo (SL), Arrecifes (AR) and Lujan (LU) ? river basin tributaries, plus a none-sediment control group, were tested under laboratory conditions. Survival, K, HSI or GSI were significantly affected by the different sediments. Standard growth rate was reduced more than 80% in fish exposed to SL, AR and LU. EROD activity was increase above 40% in LU and CA and inhibit below 30% in AR. GST activity was increased more than 50% in PI and Fe. CAT and GPx were only increased above 60% and 50% in Ne and Fe, respectively. AChE was not statistically affected by sediment source either in the brain or the muscle. One intersex was found in Fe. Association among some biological variables were observed and also with some physicochemical, geochemical and chemical parameters. Sectors of the river basing with different degree of pollution could be discriminated.