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Dos Santos I, Paiva VH, Norte AC, Churlaud C, Ceia FR, Pais de Faria J, Pereira JM, Cerveira LR, Laranjeiro MI, Veríssimo SN, Ramos JA, Bustamante P. Assessing the impacts of trace element contamination on the physiology and health of seabirds breeding along the western and southern coasts of Portugal. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124528. [PMID: 38992829 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Coastal seabirds serve as sentinels of ecosystem health due to their vulnerability to contamination from human activities. However, our understanding on how contaminant burdens affect the physiological and health condition of seabirds is still scarce, raising the uncertainty on the species' vulnerability vs tolerance to environmental contamination. Here, we quantified 15 Trace Elements (TE) in the blood of gull (yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis and Audouin's gull Ichthyaetus audouinii) and shearwater (Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis) adults, breeding in five colonies along the Portuguese coastline. Additionally, stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were quantified to elucidate foraging habitat and trophic ecology of adults, to identify potential patterns of TE contamination among colonies. We used immuno-haematological parameters as response variables to assess the influence of TE concentrations, stable isotope values, and breeding colony on adults' physiological and health condition. Remarkably, we found blood mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations to exceed reported toxicity thresholds in 25% and 13% of individuals, respectively, raising ecotoxicological concerns for these populations. The breeding colony was the primary factor explaining variation in five out of six models, underlining the influence of inherent species needs on immuno-haematological parameters. Model selection indicated a negative relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and both Hg and selenium (Se) concentrations, but a positive relationship with δ13C. The number of immature erythrocyte counts was positively related to Hg and Se, particularly in yellow-legged gulls from one colony, highlighting the colony-site context's influence on haematological parameters. Further research is needed to determine whether essential TE concentrations, particularly copper (Cu) and Se, are falling outside the normal range for seabirds or meet species-specific requirements. Continuous monitoring of non-essential TE concentrations like aluminium (Al), Hg, and Pb, is crucial due to their potential hazardous concentrations, as observed in our study colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Dos Santos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Vitor H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana C Norte
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carine Churlaud
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Pais de Faria
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge M Pereira
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lara R Cerveira
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria I Laranjeiro
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal; Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara N Veríssimo
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences ,Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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Zhao YX, Li XN, Tang YX, Talukder M, Zhao Y, Li JL. Cadmium Transforms Astrocytes into the A1 Subtype via Inducing Gap Junction Protein Connexin 43 into the Nucleus. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:12043-12051. [PMID: 37471304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium is highly toxic and present in the environment and can be accumulated among various levels of the food chain. Both humans and animals are at risk from toxicity associated with cadmium. However, the neurological endpoint caused by cadmium has not been revealed. The aim of our research is to explore the potential target of cadmium attack when causing neurotoxicity. 80 male chickens (one day old, weighing 36.49 ± 2.88 g) were randomly divided into four groups and independently treated with 0, 35, 70, or 140 mg/kg CdCl2 in diet for 90 days. The result showed that the striatum was damaged due to a high dose of cadmium in the brain, which was characterized by degeneration of neurons and astrocyte dysfunction. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that striatal astrocytes were transformed into the A1 state under cadmium exposure. Deeper investigation revealed that the internalization of gap junction protein connexin 43 was responsible for this transformation. Eventually, we can conclude that the internalized gap junction protein connexin 43 of astrocytes is the target of cadmium anchoring, and this process was accompanied by the transformation of astrocytes into the A1 subtype. This study provides a new direction for exploring the effects of cadmium on the nervous system and the treatment of subsequent nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xue-Nan Li
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | | | | | - Yi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Long Li
- Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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da Silva JM, Alves LMF, Laranjeiro MI, Bessa F, Silva AV, Norte AC, Lemos MFL, Ramos JA, Novais SC, Ceia FR. Accumulation of chemical elements and occurrence of microplastics in small pelagic fish from a neritic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118451. [PMID: 34740735 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of contaminant exposure in marine organisms often focuses on the most toxic chemical elements from upper trophic level species. Information on mid-trophic level species and particularly on potentially less harmful elements is lacking. Additionally, microplastics have been considered emergent contaminants in aquatic environments which have not been extensively studied in species from mid-trophic levels in food chains. This study aims to contribute to an overall assessment of environmental impacts of such chemicals in a community of small pelagic fish in the North Atlantic. The concentrations of 16 chemical elements, rarely simultaneously quantified (including minerals, trace elements and heavy metals), and the presence of microplastics were analysed in sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and mackerels (Scomber spp. and Trachurus trachurus) sampled along the Portuguese coast. Biochemical stress assessments and stable isotope analyses were also performed. The chemical element concentrations in S. pilchardus, T. trachurus, and Scomber spp. were relatively low and lower than the levels reported for the same species in the North Atlantic and adjacent areas. No clear relationships were found between chemical elements and oxidative damage in fish. However, the concentration of several chemical elements showed differences among species, being related with the species' habitat use, trophic niches, and specific feeding strategies. The presence of plastic pieces in the stomachs of 29% of the sampled fishes is particularly concerning, as these small pelagic fish from mid-trophic levels compose a significant part of the diet of humans and other top predators. This study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches focusing on the individual, including position data, stable isotopes, and oxidative stress biomarkers as complementary tools in contamination assessment of the marine mid-trophic levels in food chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana M da Silva
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís M F Alves
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Maria I Laranjeiro
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipa Bessa
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreia V Silva
- IPMA - Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Av. Dr. Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana C Norte
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marco F L Lemos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara C Novais
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Lemos MFL. Biomarker Studies in Stress Biology: From the Gene to Population, from the Organism to the Application. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1340. [PMID: 34943255 PMCID: PMC8698987 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Endpoints assessed at the population or community level are most often the result of the sum of effects on individuals, arising from the effects at the cellular and molecular levels. Within this framework, these lower biological level endpoints are more responsive at an early stage of exposure, making them potential toolboxes to be used as early-warning markers to address stress. Given this, by linking responses and understanding organisms' metabolism and physiology, the possibilities for the use of biomarkers in stress biology are vast. Here, biomarker comprehensive examples are given to enlighten the need to link levels of biological organization, and their usefulness for a myriad of fields and applications is presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco F L Lemos
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
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