Nitrite Exposure Effects in Aquatic Organisms
Summary
Nitrite (NO₂⁻) arises in aquatic environments through microbial nitrification of ammonia, agricultural runoff and effluent from wastewater treatment, and accumulates in both natural habitats and recirculating aquaculture systems. In exposed organisms, nitrite readily diffuses across gill epithelia, oxidising haemoglobin to methaemoglobin and compromising oxygen transport. This induces a cascade of physiological disturbances including oxidative stress, endoplasmic‐reticulum stress, immune dysfunction and metabolic disruption. Histopathological changes such as gill lamellar deformation, intestinal mucosal damage and altered tissue integrity are common, while shifts in microbial communities can further impair host health. Sublethal nitrite levels also interfere with endocrine signalling, growth performance and reproductive success. Globally, rising nitrite concentrations pose threats to biodiversity, wild fisheries and intensive aquaculture, driving research into water treatment technologies, effluent regulation and system management to mitigate toxicity and safeguard aquatic productivity.
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Nitrite Exposure Effects in Aquatic Organisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nitrite exposure effects in aquatic organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nitrite (NO₂⁻): An inorganic anion produced by oxidation of ammonia, capable of diffusing across gill membranes and interfering with oxygen transport.
Methaemoglobin: An oxidised form of haemoglobin in which the iron centre is ferric (Fe³⁺), unable to bind oxygen and leading to functional hypoxia.
Oxidative stress: A state in which reactive oxygen species overwhelm cellular antioxidant defences, causing lipid, protein and DNA damage.
Endoplasmic‐reticulum stress: A condition triggered by the accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum, activating unfolded‐protein response pathways.
Haematocrit: The fraction of blood volume occupied by red blood cells, reflecting the oxygen‐carrying capacity of the organism.
References
- Effects of Nitrite Stress on the Antioxidant, Immunity, Energy Metabolism, and Microbial Community Status in the Intestine of Litopenaeus vannamei. Antioxidants (2024).
- Analysis of Acute Nitrite Exposure on Physiological Stress Response, Oxidative Stress, Gill Tissue Morphology and Immune Response of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Animals (2022).
- Effects of Nitrite Exposure on the Hematological Properties, Antioxidant and Stress Responses of Juvenile Hybrid Groupers, Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀. Antioxidants (2022).
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