TOXIC EFFECTS ON FISH INHABITING ARSENIC CONTAMINATED FRESH WATERS OF PUNJAB
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Date
2012
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
High concentration of arsenic in groundwater of south-western provinces of Punjab, India has
become a major cause of concern. Monitoring arsenic levels and their associated health
effects in fish would not only provide an insight into overall ecosystem health but may also
act as a sentinel for potential impacts on human health. Freshwater fish was captured from
natural sites with known constant elevated levels of arsenic of 12-13 μg/L and brought to
laboratory with an objective to analyze fish muscle tissue for arsenic and the chronic effect of
elevated levels of arsenic on Hepatosomatic index (HSI), Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and
histology of fish. The variation in HSI and GSI values for fish from affected and control sites
were statistically insignificant. Mean arsenic concentration of arsenic in the muscle tissue of
fish from the area with an elevated level of arsenic was recorded as 172.3±22.4 μg/g as
compared to average value of 93.3±13.1 μg/g in control. Histological studies revealed
degenerative changes in liver, congestion of blood vessels in kidney along with vacuolar
degeneration; besides this, significant difference in the diameter of proximal convoluted
tubules and its lumen for kidney tissue was observed. The gonadal changes included the loss
in shape of seminiferous tubules in testis and exfoliation of ovarian cells. The
histomorphometric observations indicated an insignificant difference in the diameter of the
secondary oocyte, while the primary oocyte diameter had significant variation (p>0.0001)
from control specimens. These observations are in accordance with earlier studies on the
effect of environmental contaminants, but being one of the first reported on fresh water fish
exposed in natural waters, it assumes significance. The observations have been related to the
physiology as also to the reproductive health of fish and may have a bearing on mammalian
health under constant exposure.
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