Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6293580 | Ecological Indicators | 2016 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the acute toxicity of raw and treated wastewater generated by the rice parboiling industry using zebrafish (Danio rerio) sperm quality as a bioindicator. Toxicity bioassays were conducted comparing physicochemical parameters of sperm quality for zebrafish at sublethal conditions (n = 150 fish, 50 per treatment). Acute toxicity was detected in all sperm quality parameters assessed for both raw and treated wastewater, when contrasted to the control (p < 0.05). For zebrafish exposed to raw effluent, negative correlations with parameters of sperm quality were observed for the concentration of iron, phosphorus and total suspended solids (p < 0.05). Salinity, the biochemical oxygen demand and the concentration of total suspended solids were negatively correlated with parameters of sperm quality for zebrafish exposed to treated effluent (p < 0.05). In comparison with the levels observed for the raw effluent, most physicochemical parameters of the treated effluent were reduced to levels within the limits required by the environmental legislation. Despite the physical and chemical parameters measured in the treated wastewater meeting environmental legislation thresholds, acute toxicity persisted. These results show that the sperm quality can be used as a bioindicator for wastewater toxicity and release of wastewater to surface water could affect the fertility of fishes.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Authors
Michel David Gerber, Antonio Sergio Varela Junior, Jôsie Schwartz Caldas, Carine Dahl Corcini, Thomaz Jr., Luciara Bilhalva Corrêa, Ãrico Kunde Corrêa,