Eco-toxicological Impact of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent on the Behaviour and Whole Body Respiration of a Fresh Water Fish In Vivo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of Pulp and Paper Mill effluent on the behavior and respiratory physiology of fresh water fish under laboratory controlled conditions. Effluent exposed fish under laboratory experimental conditions showed symptoms of heavy metal toxicity. Experiments were conducted at maximum allowable concentration of the effluent waste. Decrease in body weight, brain somatic index (BSI), liver somatic index (LSI) and whole body respiration rate of the effluent exposed fish was observed compared to control fish. The effluent exposed fishes were allowed to recover in pollutant free normal water medium. Partial recovery in early period and no recovery at higher exposure period were observed. The observed effects were only due to heavy metal accumulation in the fish body absorbed from the effluent contaminated aquarium water and fish collected from the effluent contaminated crop fields. The behavior and impact observed in the experimental fish was almost similar to the fishes collected from contaminated crop fields.