Effluent from an NSAID-Manufacturing Plant in Mexico Induces Oxidative Stress on Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

The development of human society entails increased industrial activity and consequently the release of a large number of chemical substances including solvents, detergents and pharmaceutical products which reach water bodies through the discharge of industrial effluents, damaging the organisms living in these ecosystems. This study aimed to determine oxidative stress induced on the common carp Cyprinus carpio by effluent from a pharmaceutical plant that manufactures nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The median lethal concentration and subsequently the lowest observed adverse effect level were determined. Carp were exposed to the latter value (0.1173 %) for different exposure periods (12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h), and the following biomarkers were evaluated in gill, brain, liver and blood: hydroperoxide content (HPC), lipid peroxidation (LPX), protein carbonyl content (PCC), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Statistically significant increases with respect to the control group (P < 0.05) were observed in HPC, LPX and PCC particularly in gill of effluent-exposed specimens. SOD, CAT and GPx activity in gill also increased with respect to the control group. This particular industrial effluent is therefore concluded to induce oxidative stress on C. carpio, this damage being most evident in gill.