Abstract
In the present study, livers, kidneys and adipose tissue of Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) were collected. Samples were used to determine relationships between heavy metals/metalloids in liver and kidneys (Hg, Cd, Pb, Se and As) or persistent organic pollutants in adipose tissue (7 PCBs and 11 organochlorine pesticides) with biomarkers of oxidative stress (CAT, GPx, GR, GSH, GST, MDA) analysed in both internal organs. Three possible influencing variables have been studied: age, sex and sampling area. As a result, statistically significant differences (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) were only found according to the sampling area, with differences among the three studied areas found in both organs. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found in liver (Hg vs. GST; Se vs. MDA) and in kidney (As vs. GR; As vs. GPx; PCB52 vs. CAT; PCB138 vs. CAT). The scarcity in correlations suggests that the levels of pollutants found in animals were not high enough to trigger an effect at the oxidative level.
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Funding
The work was funded by the Consejería de Economía e Infraestructuras of Junta de Extremadura (Convocatoria de Proyectos de investigación en los centros públicos de I + D + i de la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura, 2016; Ref. IB16112); project code: 2017/00206/001.
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Supplementary material: Table S1. Correlation study between metals or PCBs and oxidative stress biomarkers. Table S2. Correlation study applied to the selected biomarkers of oxidative stress in liver and kidney. Table S3. Significant differences found in the selected biomarkers of oxidative stress in liver and kidney, when samples were grouped by geographical location-sex or geographical location-age
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Vizuete, J., Pérez-López, M., López-Beceiro, A. et al. Biochemical Effects of Heavy Metals and Organochlorine Compounds Accumulated in Different Tissues of Yellow-Legged Gulls (Larus Michahellis). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 110, 89 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03729-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03729-1