Publication: Anthropogenic electromagnetic fields and their influence on growth, humoral Immunity, and metal concentrations in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)
Authors
Ortiz García, María ; García Gamuz, José Antonio ; Martínez López, Salvadora ; Esteban Abad, María de los Ángeles
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Facultad de Biología
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Elsevier
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/dataset
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Abstract
The increasing presence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) in marine environments, driven by human activities and climate change, poses a potential risk to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the physiological and immunological effects of ELF-EMF exposure on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a key species in Mediterranean aquaculture. Fish were exposed to ELF-EMF for one or three weeks, and their growth, serum immune parameters (peroxidase and lysozyme activities), and tissue chemical elements were compared with those of unexposed controls. No significant differences were observed in fish weight, length, or serum immune parameters between the exposed and control groups at any time point. However, a significant reduction in liver cadmium (Cd) levels was detected in fish exposed to ELF-EMF for three weeks, suggesting potential modulation of metal detoxification pathways. The concentrations of other elements, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), showed minor changes in various tissues. The levels of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) were altered in some tissues after one week of ELF-EMF exposure but generally returned to control levels after three weeks. These findings indicate that short-term ELF-EMF exposure does not significantly affect growth or innate immunity in gilthead seabream under the tested conditions. The observed alterations in tissue levels of toxic and trace elements, as well as macronutrients, indicate potential interactions between ELF-EMF, metal homeostasis, and detoxification mechanisms, necessitating further investigation. This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of anthropogenic ELF-EMF on marine organisms and highlights the need for continued research to assess the long-term ecological implications of increasing ELF-EMF levels in aquatic environments.
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