Effects of Widely Used Heavy Metals on Embryological Development of Model Organism Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effect of widely used heavy metals, which are KCN, CuSO4, K3Fe(CN)6, and FeClOH on the embryological development of model organism zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish embryos were exposed to these heavy metals at a concentration was 0.5 mg/L for 96 hpf (hours post-fertilization). Mortality, hatching, and malformation rates were examined during the exposure period. The result showed that FeClOH and K3Fe(CN)6 were toxic to zebrafish embryos and caused an increased mortality rate and delayed hatching. Moreover, FeClOH and K3Fe(CN)6 caused a lot of types of abnormalities while KCN and CuSO4 were more toxic to zebrafish embryos and caused a mortality rate, which was 100% at 24 hpf. In conclusion, this study showed that widely used heavy metals, such as KCN, CuSO4, FeCIOH, and K3Fe (CN)6 cause toxicity in embryos, delay hatching time and rate, and/or cause many different malformations.