Accumulation and distribution of metals in the tissues of two catfish species from Cananéia and Santos-São Vicente estuaries

Concentrações de Pb, Cd, Zn e Cu e sua distribuição no fígado, brânquias e músculo dos bagres Cathorops spixii e Genidens genidens foram determinadas visando fornecer informações sobre os processos de bioacumulação desses metais nas espécies. Os peixes foram coletados no estuário de Cananéia e em duas regiões do estuário de Santos-São Vicente, ambos em São Paulo, Brasil. Esses estuários apresentam distintas influências antropogênicas, sendo o primeiro deles submetido a impacto industrial e o segundo a impacto doméstico. Em geral, as maiores concentrações de Cu, Zn, Cd e Pb foram obtidas no tecido hepático. No músculo foram encontrados os menores valores de acumulação para todos os elementos investigados. Quanto à distribuição dos metais e ao seu índice de poluição (Índice de Poluição por Metais-IPM), os níveis diminuíram na seguinte ordem: fígado>;brânquias>;músculo. Resultados do IPM sugerem que as brânquias e o fígado são importantes órgãos para indicar processos de bioacumulação, sendo também os melhores para refletir exposições crônica e recente a metais.Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu concentrations and their distribution in liver, gill, and muscle tissues of the catfish Cathorops spixii and Genidens genidens were investigated in order to provide information concerning the bioaccumulation processes in these species. Fish were collected in one estuary subject to slight human influence (Cananéia) and in two regions within the Santos-São Vicente estuary, São Paulo, Brazil, subject to distinct anthropogenic influences: 1) industrial and 2) domestic. In general, the highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were found in the liver tissue. Muscle showed the lowest values of metal accumulation for all the elements investigated. Regarding the distribution and the metal pollution index (MPI), the levels of the metals analyzed decreased in the following order: liver>;gill>;muscle. MPI results suggest that gill and liver are important organs to exemplify the bioaccumulation process and are also better able to reflect both recent and chronic exposure to metals

Accumulation and distribution of metals in the tissues of two catfish species from Cananéia and Santos-São Vicente estuaries

Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu concentrations and their distribution in liver, gill, and muscle tissues of the catfish Cathorops spixii and Genidens genidens were investigated in order to provide information concerning the bioaccumulation processes in these species. Fish were collected in one estuary subject to slight human influence (Cananéia) and in two regions within the Santos-São Vicente estuary, São Paulo, Brazil, subject to distinct anthropogenic influences: 1) industrial and 2) domestic. In general, the highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were found in the liver tissue. Muscle showed the lowest values of metal accumulation for all the elements investigated. Regarding the distribution and the metal pollution index (MPI), the levels of the metals analyzed decreased in the following order: liver>gill>muscle. MPI results suggest that gill and liver are important organs to exemplify the bioaccumulation process and are also better able to reflect both recent and chronic exposure to metals