Biological responses of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758) and sardine (Sardine pilchardus, Walbaum 1792) exposed to heavy metal contaminated water

The aim of the present work was to assess, by rapid approach, the detoxification capacity and the genotoxicity caused by exposure of some marine fish to polluted waters. The fish species selected for the study: white sea bream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758) and sardine (Sardine pilchardus, Walbaum 1792) were collected from different sites of Alexandria, El-Max bay and Bahary, in Egypt. Results of heavy metals analysis in sediment were: Al>Fe>Cr>Pb>Hg>Cd. Concerning detoxification analysis, fish collected from El-Max bay encounter the highest liver enzyme activity of Glutathione S-Transferase. Also, genotoxicity was evaluated in liver, gills and muscle of fishes collected and the results indicated that fish collected from El-Max bay has the highest levels of comets (DNA damage) when compared to the other sites selected as reference. It can be concluded from our results that the different tissues examined have alteration of level of detossification and comets as result of different degree of oxidative pollution insult. These biological responses may be considered for rapid extimation of food oxidative damage as well as for environmental quality.