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Lead and Arsenic Accumulation and Its Effects on Plasma Cortisol Levels in Oreochromis sp.

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Abstract

The accumulation, elimination and effect of heavy metals on plasma cortisol levels in Oreochromis sp. were studied in the exposure and recovery phases. In the exposure phase, the mean rate of accumulation in the tissues was in the order gill > liver > muscle for Pb exposure and muscle > liver > gill for As exposure. In the recovery phase, the order of elimination in the tissues was gill > liver > muscle for Pb and liver > gill > muscle for As. The amount of cortisol secreted by the Oreochromis sp. after Pb or As treatment was lower compared to Oreochromis sp. in the control group during the exposure phase. In the recovery phase, plasma cortisol levels in Oreochromis sp. increased in all Pb treatment groups while it continuously decreased in all As treatment groups. A fish affected by As has obvious difficulty recovering from the stress response. It was concluded that exposure to the tested concentrations of Pb and As over 20 days could be a potent endocrine disruptor, which may lead to adverse impacts on the health of the Oreochromis sp.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (NRF-2014R1A1A4A01008793).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Nguyen Quoc Thang & Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong

  2. Department of Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South Korea

    Bui The Huy

  3. HoChiMinh City Institute of Resources Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1 Mac Dinh Chi, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong

  4. Chemical Engineering Faculty, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Nguyen Quoc Thang & Le Van Tan

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  1. Nguyen Quoc Thang
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Correspondence to Bui The Huy or Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong.

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Thang, N.Q., Huy, B.T., Van Tan, L. et al. Lead and Arsenic Accumulation and Its Effects on Plasma Cortisol Levels in Oreochromis sp.. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 99, 187–193 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2113-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2113-7

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