Use of chiton antioxidant enzymes (Acanthopleura vaillantii) as an indicator of heavy metals contamination in the inter-tidal areas of the Oman Sea

Antioxidant enzymes are an important part of the body's immune system that are highly reactive to contaminants. In this study, changes in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in chiton (Acanthopleura vaillantii) were investigated in response to heavy metal contamination of copper, zinc and chromium on the coast of the Oman Sea. For this purpose, 18 sediment and 180 chiton samples were collected from Ramin, Daryabzorg, Maritime University coast, Tis, Konarak and desalination stations. After samples biometry and separating the soft tissue, the amount of antioxidant enzymes was measured by enzyme assay kits. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the soft tissue of chitons and sediments after acid digestion was read using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Concentration of heavy metals (µg/g dry weight) in soft tissue of chiton were recorded copper (18.44 ± 0.07), zinc (37± 0.12) and chromium (6.8±0.13), respectively; and in sediment copper (7.3±0.1), zinc (17.3±0.28) and chromium (23.5±0.18). The levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase were 20.75±4.85 and 16.27±6.05 nmol/mg protein in chiton soft tissue, respectively. The pattern of accumulation of heavy metals in the soft tissue of chitons was recorded as chromium Ramin> Konarak> Daryabozorg> Tis> Desalination.Examination of sediment contamination with sediment quality standards showed that sediments were safe in terms of metals studied on the coasts of the Oman Sea.