Mercury in the Oriental sole (Brachirus orientalis) near a chlor-alkali plant in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Total mercury in muscle and liver of Oriental sole from the largest inlet in the Persian Gulf was evaluated. Fish were collected from three channels of Moses Inlet near a chlor-alkali plant. Ahamdi and Jafari channels were closest to this plant and Ghanam was farther away. We sampled in August 2007 and February 2008. The overall estimated marginal mean for total mercury in sole tissue was 2.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg wet weight. Mercury in fish was similar in August and February; but muscle from Ahmadi contained higher mercury in August (1 ± 0.2) than in February (0.5 ± 0.01). This trend was reversed in the liver (1.3 ± 0.2 and 3.7 ± 0.3).

Evaluation of metallothionein expression as a biomarker of mercury exposure in Scatophagus argus.

The effect of mercury exposure to total Metallothionein (MT) response and bioaccumulation under control and acute mercury exposure were investigated in scats (Scatophagus argus). Scats were exposed to different mercury concentrations (10, 20 and 30 microg Hg L(-1)) for 24, 48 and 72 h. Total MT levels were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Mercury contents were determined through cold Vapour atomic Absorption spectrometry. Induction of MT during exposure was tissue specific, displaying different response pattern in gill and liver. Mercury accumulated much stronger in liver than gill and the latter also showed lower MT level. MT biosynthesis in liver showed a significant increase after exposure to different mercury concentration during different times. This increase was significantly correlated with mercury bioaccumulation. In contrast, presence of different mercury concentration during different times did not significantly modify total MT except for 72 h exposure at 30 microg L(-1) in gills. The results suggest that this form of MT existing in S. argus was Hg-inducible and could be extended the as a biomarker of mercury pollution in ecosystems.