Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate metal exposure through the concentration of essential and toxic micro-minerals in biological samples of Phrynops geoffroanus from an anthropized river. The work was carried out in four areas with different flow characteristics and uses of the river, where individuals of both sexes were captured during the dry and rainy seasons. The elements Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn were quantified in samples of serum (168), muscle (62), liver (61), and kidney (61) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The concentration of the elements varied according to the sample type, being higher in the liver and the kidney. In the serum, many elements were below the limit of quantification, but it was possible to determine Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn. The liver showed high levels of Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn, and muscle for Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn, with most of the elements accumulated in the kidney (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, and Ni) relative to other tissues. There was no significant difference between the sexes in the accumulation of elements. Between seasons, Cu was higher in serum and Mn in muscle and liver in the dry period, while in the kidney, almost all the elements were higher in the rainy period. The concentrations of the elements in the samples indicated a high degree of environmental contamination, representing risk in the use of the river and consumption of food from local fisheries.
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Acknowledgements
We would also like to thank the forest engineer Felipe Pinto Guimarães for elaborating the identification map of the study areas of this work.
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This study was financed by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçomento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brazil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.
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Cristina F. Fonseca: conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, and supervision. Iago J. S. Silva: methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing—original draft, and writing—review and editing. Midiã S. Rodrigues: methodology and writing—original draft. Bruna H. S. Silva: methodology and writing—original draft. Pierre C. Soares: conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, and supervision. Geraldo J. B. Moura: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—original draft, and supervision. Jaqueline B. Oliveira: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, resources, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, visualization, and supervision.
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da Fonseca, C.F., da Silva, I.J.S., da Silva Rodrigues, M. et al. Evaluation of metal exposure through the composition of essential and toxic micro-minerals in freshwater turtles (Phrynops geoffroanus) from a Brazilian river. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 54871–54884 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26127-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26127-w