ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Metal Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress
in Millipedes Experimentally Exposed to a Cocktail
of Aluminium, Iron and Manganese
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1
Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula
University of Technology, PO Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
2
Department of Conservation and Marine Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula
University of Technology, PO Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
3
Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology,
PO Box 652, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
Submission date: 2021-09-27
Final revision date: 2022-02-11
Acceptance date: 2022-02-14
Online publication date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Corresponding author
Anne-Liese Naudé
Environmental and Occupational Studies, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Hanover street, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(5):4213-4222
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ABSTRACT
Forest pockets adjacent to cities are impacted by atmospheric pollution containing metals
arising from urban activities. Elevated concentrations of metals have been found in forest soils
and contamination thereof threatens soil biodiversity. Metals are known to induce oxidative stress
and metal cytotoxicity in organisms has been linked to oxidative damage, which may threaten
the health of forest soil and its biodiversity. Pill millipedes in the Afromontane forest pockets in Cape
Town, South Africa are exposed to a combination of metals, arising from various sources of pollution.
The objectives of this investigation were to determine the level of metal bioaccumulation and oxidative
stress in millipedes experimentally exposed to a cocktail of metals. The millipedes were exposed to
a high and low concentration aluminium, iron and manganese cocktail for 6 weeks. The experimental
exposure resulted in bioaccumulation of these metals in millipedes in their different exposure
groups. The higher tGSH concentrations, indicated activation of the endogenous antioxidant system,
and the higher MDA levels, suggests lipid peroxidation by means of the increased generation of free
radicals, which suggests that the pill millipedes have experienced induced oxidative stress.