Ecology of oxidative stress in the Danube barbel (Barbus balcanicus) from a winegrowing district: Effects of water parameters, trace and rare earth elements on biochemical biomarkers

Fish can be highly vulnerable to environmental pressures because they are exposed oxidative stressors in the aquatic environment. Such affect levels of antioxidant biomarkers against reactive oxygen species (ROS). With this study we investigated stress ecology Danube barbel (Barbus balcanicus) from Barbucina creek (northeast Italy), a watercourse Collio winegrowing district. To do this, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was measured gills, liver, muscle, while metallothioneins (MT) trace rare earth elements (REEs) were determined muscle. The effect factors (physicochemical parameters water, REEs) on thus assessed. High concentrations for cerium (Ce), scandium (Sc), neodymium (Nd), lanthanum (La), yttrium (Y), praseodymium (Pr) among REEs. Among elements, arsenic (As), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg) higher compared published data, suggesting their role as stressors. multiple linear regression (MLR) model showed statistically significant association (R2 = 0.858; F 10.07; p 0.015) between As, Cu, Hg, Pr SOD indicating functional relationship them. Differently, CAT significantly probably response long-term Cu contamination watercourse. This confirmed by MLR that 0.638; 8.152; 0.02) concentration MT Cu. Our data show biochemical defensive disturbances ecosystem creek. These insights advance our understanding effects REEs fish.