Discriminating and Bio– accumulation of Mercury and Lead contamination in fresh water fish of Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peter, 1973).

S. Sujatha; Briscilla C.; Anperasi R

Volume : VIII, Issue : VIII, August - 2019

Discriminating and Bio– accumulation of Mercury and Lead contamination in fresh water fish of Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peter, 1973).

S. Sujatha, Briscilla C. , Anperasi R

Abstract :

Environmental pollution is a worldwide problem as heavy metals belong to the most important pollutants. The progress of industries has led to increased emission of pollutants into ecosystems. The present study highlighted the objective of this work was to determine the acute toxicity and bioaccumulation of mercury and lead and biochemical content in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from the two different water bodies Thamirabarani river and estuarine river in Kanyakumari District. The average concentration of both metals in water ranged from 4.3 to 44.1�gL–1 followed by 8.41 to 16.37�gL–1 mercury and Lead respectively. Acute toxicity tests showed that the mercury and Lead concentration that caused toxicity to tilapia ranged from 67.25�g Lead L–1, and 45.39�g HgL–1 at 24hrs 21.34�gL–1 and to 60.51�gL–1 in the 96 hrs respectively. When measured Lead and mercury concentration in various tissues for mercury and Lead described the significant correlations found among the various concentrations in all experimental tissues. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of mercury and Lead in O. mossambicus for 24, 48, 72 and 96hrs of exposure periods having LC50 values such as 8.325, 7.201, 6. 906, 5.128ppm for mercury and 7.249, 7.131, 6.106, 5.165 for lead treated fishes respectively. Furthermore, the results were showed that more lead and mercury was accumulated in the intestine, stomach and liver of fish than in muscles. The order of tendency to accumulate Pb and Hg in Tilapia tissues was intestine > stomach > liver > gill> muscle. While the macromolecular analysis clearly showed the maximum protein and lipid content was observed in Thamirabarani river fishes than the estuarine river. From the present research showed the overall conclusion is whenever the non–essential metals concentrations are increased in the fresh water, the target organs of the living organism especially O. mossambicus accumulated rate and affected in main organs also been remarkably increased in fish as a result consuming candidate definitely affected the many adverse effects them body