Effect of copper nanoparticles and organometallic compounds (dibutyltin) on tilapia fish

Saif Al Ghais,Omar Al Shehhi,Pramod Kumbhar,Vibha Bhardwaj

doi:10.1186/s41936-019-0101-7

Abstract

BackgroundMozambique tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) are commonly used in the assessment of aquatic environment quality and also considered as useful bio-indicators during environmental pollution monitoring. Copper-oxide and dibutyltin are used as antifouling underwater hall paints.Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) are serious water pollutants but their impact in fish’s performance remains poorly understood.ResultsIn the present study, we have exposed tilapia, a freshwater edible fish to two different doses (15 mg/L) of Cu-NPs and (2 mg/L) dibutyltin for 6 days. The doses selected were eco-relevant considering the contamination levels of certain water resources. The results indicated that the activity oxidative stress enzymes reduced glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly decreased in the liver, brain, and gills of the treated groups when compared to control.ConclusionTaken together, the results suggest that short-term exposure of tilapia fish to Cu-NPs and dibutyltin causes oxidative stress and impart serious deleterious effects in the tissues which may affect fish growth and development and causes death. In the case of the gills, liver, and brain when exposed to both concentrations of CuO and dibutyltin (NPs), although the activity of these enzymes showed an inhibition in the liver when exposed to both concentrations of NPs. The present study investigated that CuO-NPs are more toxic than dibutyltin.

Highlights

Mozambique tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) are commonly used in the assessment of aquatic environment quality and considered as useful bio-indicators during environmental pollution monitoring
The present study aims to provide a comparative study between CuO and dibutyltin (NPs) at a concentration to declare their deleterious effects on oxidative biomarkers of fresh water tilapia and the measurement of oxidative stress
The treated group showed a more pronounced effect and a significant increase of tissue and body weight were observed when compared to the control (Fig 4)

Summary

Introduction

Mozambique tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) are commonly used in the assessment of aquatic environment quality and considered as useful bio-indicators during environmental pollution monitoring. Copper-oxide and dibutyltin are used as antifouling underwater hall paints. Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) are serious water pollutants but their impact in fish’s performance remains poorly understood. Antifouling paints containing tributyltin (TBT) began in the late 1980s. It still may be available in some parts of the world, antifouling paints containing TBT were banned in 2008. Copper began to become a concern in California in the 1990s. Copper has been used in antifouling paints for centuries because it is effective, available, and relatively inexpensive compared to other biocides. The most common forms of copper used today are cuprous oxide, copper thiocyanate, and copper flake

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion