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Effects of ECF-Kraft pulp mill effluent treated with fungi (Rhizopus oryzae) on reproductive steroids and liver CYP1A of exposed goldfish (Carassius auratus)

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Abstract

The toxicity of bleached Kraft pulp mill effluents (BKME) is usually attributed to chemical compounds which are produced and released throughout various stages of pulp and paper production. The main objective of the present work was to detect sub-lethal responses of goldfish (Carassius auratus) to secondary treated BKME which was treated with Rhizopus oryzae. A total of 96 carps (C. auratus; 11 ± 3 g) were exposed to different concentrations of the post-treated effluent (0, 1, 10, 25, 50, and 100%), in 28 days semi-static tests. Several biomarkers were then evaluated to assess the toxicological effects: induction of CYP1A (metabolic processes of organic compounds in liver), change in steroid profiles (11-Ketotestosterone, 17β-estradiol), histopathology of liver and gonads and somatic indices (GSI, HSI) for endocrine disruption and other physiological disturbances. The most significant results show an induction of CYP1A in both sexes and a decrease of 17β-estradiol concentrations in females. Histopathological changes such as liver tissue degeneration were observed in fish exposed to 50 and 100% of the BKME. Although the BKME was biologically treated there are some chemical compounds in the effluent that are capable to affect fish physiology, however, a clear evidence for endocrine disruption was not found.

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Acknowledgments

To FCT (Portugal), who funded the research project, POCT/CTA/45030/2002: ‘Decolourisation of effluents from pulp and paper mills: removal of organic compounds and toxicity (DECORTOX)’ and to the FCT post doctoral grant (SFRH/BPD/20737/2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, IMAR-Instituto do Mar, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    M. S. Diniz, I. Peres, L. Castro & P. M. Costa

  2. REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Centro de Química Fina e Biotecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    M. S. Diniz

  3. ISEIT/Viseu, Instituto Piaget, Estrada do Alto do Gaio, Galifonge, 3515-776, Lordosa, Viseu, Portugal

    A. C. Freitas & T. A. P. Rocha-Santos

  4. CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    R. Pereira

  5. CESAM, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    A. C. Duarte

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  1. M. S. Diniz
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  2. I. Peres
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  3. L. Castro
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  4. A. C. Freitas
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  5. T. A. P. Rocha-Santos
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  8. A. C. Duarte
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Correspondence to M. S. Diniz.

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Diniz, M.S., Peres, I., Castro, L. et al. Effects of ECF-Kraft pulp mill effluent treated with fungi (Rhizopus oryzae) on reproductive steroids and liver CYP1A of exposed goldfish (Carassius auratus). Ecotoxicology 18, 1011–1017 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0392-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0392-4

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