Effect of copper nanoparticles and organometallic compounds (dibutyltin) on tilapia fish

Abstract Background Mozambique tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) are commonly used in the assessment of aquatic environment quality and also considered as useful bio-indicators during environmental pollution monitoring. Copper-oxide and dibutyltin are used as antifouling underwater hall paints. Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) are serious water pollutants but their impact in fish’s performance remains poorly understood. Results In the present study, we have exposed tilapia, a freshwater edible fish to two different doses (15 mg/L) of Cu-NPs and (2 mg/L) dibutyltin for 6 days. The doses selected were eco-relevant considering the contamination levels of certain water resources. The results indicated that the activity oxidative stress enzymes reduced glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly decreased in the liver, brain, and gills of the treated groups when compared to control. Conclusion Taken together, the results suggest that short-term exposure of tilapia fish to Cu-NPs and dibutyltin causes oxidative stress and impart serious deleterious effects in the tissues which may affect fish growth and development and causes death. In the case of the gills, liver, and brain when exposed to both concentrations of CuO and dibutyltin (NPs), although the activity of these enzymes showed an inhibition in the liver when exposed to both concentrations of NPs. The present study investigated that CuO-NPs are more toxic than dibutyltin.