This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) pollution of selected rivers in the Czech Republic. Integrated evaluation was carried out using combination of chemical and biological monitoring, in which we measured content of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in chub bile and priority PAH in water samples obtained by exposing the semipermeable membrane devices at each location. The concentrations of 1-OHP in bile samples and sum of priority PAH in water sampler ranged from 6.8 ng mg protein(-1) to 106.6 ng mg protein(-1) and from 5.2 ng L(-1) to 173.9 ng L(-1), respectively. The highest levels of biliary metabolite and PAH in water were measured at the Odra River (the Bohumín site), which is located in relatively heavily industrialized and polluted region. Statistically significant positive correlation between biliary 1-OHP and sum of PAH in water was also obtained (P < 0.01, r s = 0.806).

• MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis   MeSH
• Cyprinidae MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis   MeSH
• Rivers chemistry   MeSH
• Geography MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH

The aim of the present study was to assess aquatic contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), using the 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) content in fish bile as a biochemical marker. A total of 71 chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) were collected from seven locations on the Svitava and Svratka rivers in and around the industrial city of Brno, Czech Republic. The levels of 1-OHP were determined by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detection after deconjugation. Normalising the molar concentration of the biliary 1-OHP to the biliary protein content reduced sample variation. The content of 1-OHP was correlated with the PAH level in bottom sediment and semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMD), which was analyzed by a combination of HPLC/FLD and GC/MS methods. The highest mean values of 1-OHP were found in fish caught at the Svratka River at locations Modřice (169.2 ± 99.7 ng · mg(-1) protein) and Rajhradice (152.2 ± 79.7 ng · mg(-1) protein), which are located downstream from Brno. These values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those obtained from localities Kníničky (98.4 ± 66.1 ng · mg(-1) protein) and Bílovice nad Svitavou (64.1 ± 31.4 ng · mg(-1) protein). The lowest contents of PAH in sediment and SPMD were found at location Kníničky (1.5 mg · kg(-1) dry mass and 19.4 ng · L(-1), respectively). The highest contents of PAH in sediment and SPMD were found in Rajhradice (26.0 mg · kg(-1) dry mass) and Svitava before junction (65.4 ng · L(-1)), respectively. A Spearman correlation test was applied to determine the relationship between biliary 1-OHP and the sum of PAH in sediment and SPMD. A positive, but no statistically significant correlation was found. The main impact sources of elevated level of PAHs in sites located downstream from Brno are most probably intensive industrial and agricultural activities and domestic waste.

• Keywords
• SPMD, aquatic pollution, bile, fish, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the Svitava and Svratka rivers,
• MeSH
• Biomarkers analysis   MeSH
• Biological Assay methods   MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis   MeSH
• Hydrobiology methods   MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis   MeSH
• Pyrenes analysis   MeSH
• Fishes metabolism   MeSH
• Water chemistry   MeSH
• Bile chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 1-hydroxypyrene MeSH Browser
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH
• Pyrenes MeSH
• Water MeSH

Due to anthropogenic activities, heavy metals still represent a threat for various trophic levels. If aquatic animals are exposed to heavy metals we can obviously observe considerable toxicity. It is well known that an organism affected by cadmium (Cd) synthesize low molecular mass thiol compounds rich in cysteine (Cys), such as metallothioneins (MT) and glutathione (GSH/GSSG). The aim of this study was to summarize the effect of Cd on level of thiol compounds in aquatic organisms, and evaluate that the concentrations of thiol compounds are effective indicators of Cd water pollution and explain their potential use in biomonitoring applications.

• Keywords
• Cd, fish, glutathione, metal pollution, metallothionein,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH