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Effects of Single Metals and their Mixtures on Selected Enzymes of Carcinus Maenas

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Abstract

In this work, the acute effects of copper, chromium and mixtures of both metals on females of the marine crab Carcinus maenas were investigated. The parameters indicative of toxicity were mortality and the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione-S-tranferases (GST). LC50 values determined at 96 hr were 51.8 mg L-1 for copper, 49.8 mg L-1 for chromium and 15 mg L-1 Cu + 43.6 mg L-1 Cr for the mixture of both metals. Copper, chromium and the mixtures of both metals significantly inhibit haemolymph AChE, ovarian LDH and hepatopancreas GST after an in vivo exposure of 96 hr to concentrations lower than NOEC values for mortality. Furthermore, the mixtures tested showed a more pronounced effect than individual agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    M. Elumalai, C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino

  2. Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia, Departamento de Estudos de Populações, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    L. Guilhermino

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  1. M. Elumalai
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  2. C. Antunes
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  3. L. Guilhermino
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Correspondence to M. Elumalai.

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Elumalai, M., Antunes, C. & Guilhermino, L. Effects of Single Metals and their Mixtures on Selected Enzymes of Carcinus Maenas . Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 141, 273–280 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021352212089

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