We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Carassius auratus as a bioindicator of the health status of Lake Trasimeno and risk assessment for consumers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used goldfish (Carassius auratus) as bioindicators to assess chemical and biological contamination in Lake Trasimeno, Italy, testing for flame retardants, PCBs, heavy metals, and microplastics. The study found that the combination of contaminants in commercially fished goldfish poses measurable health risks to consumers, demonstrating the value of fish-based monitoring for human food safety assessments.
Fish are good bio-indicators of the health status of the aquatic environment and can be used as biomarkers to assess the aquatic behavior of environmental pollutants, the exposure of aquatic organisms, and the health risk for consumers. Goldfish are a significant bioindicator in the Lake Trasimeno aquatic system (Umbria, Italy). This study aimed to characterize the health status and the chemical and biotic contamination of Lake Trasimeno to define its anthropogenic and natural pressures and the risk associated with consuming its fishery products. 114 determinations were performed on Carassius auratus samples from 2018 to 2020, and the occurrence of brominated flame retardants, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, and microplastics was analytically investigated. Dietary exposure assessment, risk characterization, and benefit-risk evaluation were performed for schoolchildren from 3 to 10 years old. Flame-retardants registered high levels of non-detects (99% for polybrominated diphenyl ether and 76% for hexabromocyclododecanes), while polychlorinated biphenyls were found in all samples with a maximum level of 56.3 ng/g. Traces of at least one heavy metal were found in all samples, though always below the regulatory limit. Microplastics were found with a 75% frequency of fish ingesting at least one particle. Dietary exposure and risk characterization reveal negligible contributions to the reference values of all contaminants, except for mercury, which reached up to 25% of admissible daily intake. The benefit- risk assessment highlighted that the benefits of freshwater fish intake outweigh the associated risks. The examination of goldfish as indicator fish reveals the quality of Lake Trasimeno's aquatic environment and the safety of its products.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and Brominated Flame Retardants in Freshwater Fishes From Italian Lakes: Implication for Human Health
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found both microplastics and brominated flame retardants (PBDEs and HBCDs) in freshwater fish from two Central Italian lakes, raising concerns about the synergistic contamination of commercial fish species and potential human health implications from consuming these co-contaminated fish.
From Ecological Threats to Monitoring Tools: Multi-Contaminant Profiles in Silurus glanis and Procambarus clarkii for Pollution Tracking and Preliminary Food/Feed Safety Assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested invasive catfish and crayfish from Italian lakes for pollution — including heavy metals and microplastics — to see if these unwanted species could double as food sources or pollution trackers. The good news: most contaminants were within safe limits, but catfish from one lake had lead levels too high for human consumption, and every single animal tested had microplastics in its gut. This suggests that while eating invasive species could help both the environment and food supply, contamination should be checked case-by-case before they end up on your plate.
Intrusion of Mercury and Micro Plastics in the Aquatic Food Chain Its Effects on Fish Consumption Risks, Realities, and Policy Implications
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how mercury and microplastics contaminate aquatic food chains, focusing on biomagnification of mercury across trophic levels and the ingestion and tissue accumulation of microplastics by fish. It discusses food safety risks for human consumers and policy implications for managing co-occurring aquatic pollutants.
Development of a holistic approach for river health assessment: from bioindicators to the ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined chemical, ecological, and fish biomarker data in a citizen-science assessment of the Elsa River in Italy, finding that water quality and ecological health declined progressively downstream, with microplastic ingestion by chub fish peaking near urbanized zones alongside genotoxic effects linked to mercury and organic pollutants.
Water Quality and Fish Health: Interaction with Toxic Substances
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how various toxic substances in water, including microplastics, affect fish health through physiological, behavioral, and biochemical pathways. Researchers summarized evidence that pollutants can accumulate in fish tissues and impair their immune systems, reproduction, and organ function. The study emphasizes that declining water quality from emerging contaminants poses growing risks to aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.