Use of goldfish to monitor wastewater and reuse water for xenobiotics. Issue 4 (1st July 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kerr, Jennifer L; Goss, Greg G; Smith, Daniel W; Belosevic, Miodrag
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental engineering and science. Volume 7:Issue 4(2008)
• Page Start: 369
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2008-07-01
• Subjects: fish; -- xenobiotics; -- bio-monitoring; -- endocrine disruptors; -- proliferation; -- gene expression; -- wastewater; -- pollution; -- immune function; -- vitellogenin; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Canada -- Periodicals; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Périodiques; Technique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Canada -- Périodiques; Environmental engineering; Sanitary engineering; Canada; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1139/S08-011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1496-2551

Abstract

Abstract : Goldfish were exposed to either treated municipal effluent (FE wastewater) or reuse water produced through membrane ultrafiltration (MF reuse water) or membrane ultrafiltration followed by activated carbon filtration (MCF wastewater) for up to 90 days. The xenobiotics present in the wastewater were identified using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy and the efficacy of their removal by membrane ultrafiltration and activated carbon filtration were determined. At various time points post-exposure to wastewater or reuse water the following biological parameters were assessed: vitellogenin (Vtg) induction, immune gene expression, and mitogen-induced proliferation of blood leukocytes. Membrane ultrafiltration alone did not remove xenobiotics from FE wastewater, while activated carbon filtration efficiently reduced the levels of most xenobiotics. Vitellogenin was induced in fish exposed to both FE wastewater and MF reuse water, but not in fish exposed to MCF reuse water. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of select immune genes (tumor necrosis factor alpha, colony stimulating factor receptor-1) were up-regulated in FE and MF exposed fish on days 7 and 21 post exposure, while Toll-like receptor 22 mRNA level was similar in fish exposed to wastewater or control water. Prolonged exposure of fish to FE and MF wastewaters caused a significant reduction in the mitogen-induced proliferation of blood leukocytes. Our results suggest that goldfish may be used as biosentinels for xenobiotics present in wastewater and reuse water.