Elsa Noreña-Barroso

Evaluation of the estrogenic and oxidative stress effects of the UV filter 3-benzophenone in zebrafish (Danio rerio) eleuthero-embryos

Personal care products have been detected in superficial waters, representing an environmental risk to the biota. Some studies indicated that 3-benzophenone (3BP) alters hormones, inducing vitellogenesis and having adverse effects on fish reproduction. Other studies have reported generation of free radicals and changes in antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test acute exposure to 3BP at concentrations within and beyond that found environmentally to provide important toxicological information regarding this chemical. We evaluated the effect of 3BP on vitellogenin 1 (VTG1) gene expression and the transcription of the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which are involved in cellular redox balance. Zebrafish eluthero-embryos (168hpf) were exposed to 1,10, 100, 1000µg/L 3BP, in addition to a negative control and a 0.1% ethanol control for 48h. The results of our study indicated a positive significant correlation between exposure concentrations and VTG1 expression (r=0.986, p=0.0028) but only 1000µg/L 3BP produced a significant increase from control. Acute exposure showed no significant differences in transcription levels of CAT, SOD or GPx at the tested conditions. Nevertheless, a trend toward increase in GPx expression was observed as a positive significant correlation (r=0.928, p=0.017) was noted.

Impacts of oxidative stress on acetylcholinesterase transcription, and activity in embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio) following Chlorpyrifos exposure

Organophosphate pesticides cause irreversible inhibition of AChE which leads to neuronal overstimulation and death. Thus, dogma indicates that the target of OP pesticides is AChE, but many authors postulate that these compounds also disturb cellular redox processes, and change the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Interestingly, it has also been reported that oxidative stress plays also a role in the regulation and activity of AChE. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of the antioxidant, vitamin C (VC), the oxidant, t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) and the organophosphate Chlorpyrifos (CPF), on AChE gene transcription and activity in zebrafish embryos after 72h exposure. In addition, oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring antioxidant enzymes activities and transcription, and quantification of total glutathione. Apical effects on the development of zebrafish embryos were also measured. With the exception of AChE inhibition and enhanced gene expression, limited effects of CPF on oxidative stress and apical endpoints were found at this developmental stage. Addition of VC had little effect on oxidative stress or AChE, but increased pericardial area and heartbeat rate through an unknown mechanism. TBOOH diminished AChE gene expression and activity, and caused oxidative stress when administered alone. However, in combination with CPF, only reductions in AChE activity were observed with no significant changes in oxidative stress suggesting the adverse apical endpoints in the embryos may have been due to AChE inhibition by CPF rather than oxidative stress. These results give additional evidence to support the role of prooxidants in AChE activity and expression.

Impacts of Geochemical and Environmental Factors on Seasonal Variation of Heavy Metals in a Coastal Lagoon Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract This study investigated the influence of geochemical and environmental factors on seasonal variation in metals in Yucatan’s Chelem lagoon. Anthropogenic activities discharge non-treated wastewater directly into it with detrimental environmental consequences. Accordingly, this study established the spatial and temporal patterns of fine grain sediments and concentrations of heavy metals. Multivariate analyses showed fine grain facies deposition, transition sites dominated by fine grain transport, and fine grain erosion sites. Spatial and temporal variations of heavy metals concentration were significant for Cd, Cu, Cr, and Pb. As, Cd, and Sn were as much as 12 times higher than SQuiRTs standards (Buchman 2008). The results indicate that aquifer water is bringing metals from relatively far inland and releasing them into the lagoon. Thus, it appears that the contamination of this lagoon is highly complex and must take into account systemic connections with inland anthropogenic activates and pollution, as well as local factors.

Water Consumption as Source of Arsenic, Chromium, and Mercury in Children Living in Rural Yucatan, Mexico: Blood and Urine Levels.

Studies investigating the correlation between metal content in water and metal levels in children are scarce worldwide, but especially in developing nations. Therefore, this study investigates the correlation between arsenic, chromium, and mercury concentrations in drinking and cooking water and in blood and urine samples collected from healthy and supposedly non-exposed children from a rural area in Yucatan, Mexico. Mercury in water shows concentrations above the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) value for drinking and cooking water. Also, 25% of the children show mercury in urine above the WHO recommended value. Multivariate analyses show a significant role for drinking and cooking water as a vector of exposure in children. Also, the factor analysis shows chronic exposure in the case of arsenic, as well as an ongoing detoxification process through urine in the case of mercury. Further studies should be done in order to determine other potential metal exposure pathways among children.

Submerged Groundwater Discharges as Source of Fecal Material in Protected Karstic Coastal Areas

Coastal zones are vital for their ecosystem services and socioeconomic value. Accordingly, several zones have been protected to limit anthropogenic development and to avoid environmental degradation. Nevertheless, some of these protected areas keep deteriorating probably related with anthropogenic contributions not considered in legislation. Specifically, submerged groundwater discharges (springs) could be releasing anthropogenic materials carried from remote inland areas to the coast. Here we evaluate the role and temporal variation of submerged groundwater discharges as sources of anthropogenic materials using the 5 -stanol C27 markers in the natural protected area of Dzilam de Bravo, Yucatan, Mexico. Results demonstrate that (1) submerged groundwater discharge flux velocity and direction vary between hydrological season, exhibiting higher flow rates in Nortes season contrary to dry season and (2) the presence of coprostanol and epicoprostanol (anthropogenic fecal matter markers) in sediments surrounding the submerged groundwater discharges provides proof of allochthonous anthropogenic fecal material in a protected area, probably from remote inland sites. Thus, it is vitally important that inland anthropogenic materials transported in groundwater and released in the coastal environment by submerged groundwater discharges be considered in protection plans, like protection perimeters, for coastal zones.

Feeding habits of the whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) inferred by fatty acid profiles in the northern Mexican Caribbean

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus, Smith, 1828) is an endangered species with anthropogenic pressures due to increasing demand of encounter tourism activities. Research efforts to identify management and conservation strategies for this species are needed. The Northern Mexican Caribbean is one of the most important feeding aggregation sites of whale sharks worldwide. In this study, Mexican Caribbean whale shark feeding habits are assessed by means of fatty acid (FA) signature analysis, a biochemical non-destructive technique widely applied in trophic ecology studies. Sub-dermal tissue biopsies of 68 whale sharks and samples of their potential prey (zooplankton) were collected during 2010 and 2011 in two areas with high R. typus abundance. Zooplankton samples (n = 17) were divided in two categories: mixed zooplankton (several groups of zooplankton) and fish eggs (> 95% of sample components were fish eggs). FA profiles of whale shark tissue sampled between years showed significant variability; while there was no intraspecific differences in FA signature related to sex, size and location. FA profiles of whale sharks and their potential prey were dominated by saturated fatty acids (SFA). R. typus FA signature was significantly different from that of mixed zooplankton; on the other hand, whale shark and fish egg FA profiles formed groups with overlapping values and registered high levels of oleic acid. PUFA average ω3/ ω6 ratio on whale shark FA profiles for both years was below 1. Arachidonic acid (ARA) percentage was higher in whale shark biopsies (13.2% in 2010, 6.8% in 2011) compared to values observed in fish eggs (2.0%) and mixed zooplankton (1.4%). Similarity between FA profiles of whale sharks and fish eggs, low levels of bacterial FA found in R. typus biopsies, as well as whale shark feeding behavior observations in the study area, suggest that R. typus is feeding mainly on surface zooplankton in Mexican Caribbean; however, elevated ARA percentages in whale shark samples may indicate that this species has complementary feeding sources, such as demersal zooplankton, which has been reported in other aggregation sites. Results obtained contribute to the knowledge of the whale shark trophic ecology in the area, but are inconclusive. Further studies are recommended to evaluate whale shark FA profiles from different tissues (muscle or blood); also, broader information is needed about zooplankton FA signature in the study area.