Morphological Deformities as Biomarkers in Fish from Contaminated Rivers in Taiwan

Authors

Peter Lin Sun, National Pingtung university of Science and TechnologyFollow
William E. Hawkins, Gulf Coast Research LaboratoryFollow
Robin M. Overstreet, Gulf Coast Research LaboratoryFollow
Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, Gulf Coast Research LaboratoryFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2009) 6: 2,307-2,331. Copyright 2009, Molecular Diversity Preservation International. Used by permission. http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Abstract

Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) were collected seasonally from four contaminated rivers in southwestern Taiwan for studies of morphological deformities that could be used as biomarkers of contamination. Morphological deformities found in tilapia were separated into 15 categories. Overall, the prevalence of deformities such as split fins, lower lip extension and gill deformities were significantly related to various water quality parameters, including low DO and high ammonium, lead and zinc concentrations. The persistence of tilapia in polluted waters and the development of a suite of morphological deformities suggest that tilapia can be used as sentinels of non-point source pollution in rivers.