Effects of long-term exposure to simazine in real concentrations on common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.)

Abstract

The effects of a 90 day simazine exposure at concentrations of 0.06 (reported concentration in Czech rivers), 1, 2, and 4 μg L −1 were assessed in one-year-old common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.). Its influence on biometric parameters, hematology, blood biochemistry, liver biomarkers, and histology was investigated. Biometric parameters of common carp exposed to simazine at 0.06 μg L −1 showed no differences from untreated fish. Simazine concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 μg L −1 caused significant ( p<0.01) increase of hepatosomatic indices relative to controls. Hematological profiles showed significant ( p<0.01) decrease in leukocyte count relative to controls at all concentrations. Biochemical profiles of common carp exposed to simazine at all concentrations showed significant ( p<0.01) increase in activity of alkaline phosphatase. In addition, at concentrations of 1 and 2 μg L −1, there was a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase ( p<0.05), and, at 4 μg L −1, a significant increase in total protein ( p<0.05), albumins ( p<0.05), and alanine aminotransferase ( p<0.05) compared with controls. Renal histology revealed severe hyaline degeneration of the epithelial cells of caudal kidney tubules in fish at all exposure levels compared to controls. Chronic exposure of common carp to simazine caused significant shifts in hematological, biochemical, and biometric profiles, and histopathological changes. The results of this study indicate that chronic exposure of simazine has altered multiple physiological indices in fish hematology and biochemistry, which potentially may be a biomarker of simazine toxicity; however, before these parameters are used as special biomarkers for monitoring residual simazine in aquatic environment, more detailed experiments in laboratory need to be performed in the future.