ASSESSMENT OF LEAD ACCUMULATION IN MUSCLE AND ABNORMAL NUCLEATION IN THE PERIPHERAL ERYTHROCYTES OF FISH (Mystus cavisus HAM. -BUCH.) OF HOOGHLY RIVER DOWNSTREAM

Abstract

The present study was attempted to analysis the concentration of lead (Pb) in water, sediment and muscles as well as to evaluate the frequencies (%) of several nuclear abnormalities (NA) and MN (micronucleation) in the peripheral erythrocytes of fish, Mystus cavisus Ham.-Buch. inhabited in the Hooghly river downstream near Birlapur, West Bengal, India. The study site was selected at Birlapur Hooghly river as downstream site. The concentration of Pb was estimated in water, sediment and muscles of studied fish species by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and also evaluated the frequencies of different MN and NA in the peripheral erythrocytes of test fish. The results clearly indicate that the value of metal Pb as less than 0.1mg/L in water, 29.00 ± 9.90 mg/Kg in sediment, which are within the threshold value of international standards but14.91 ± 4.14 mg/Kg in muscle was observed beyond the international standard. The present results also reveal alarming risk of genotoxicity through the induction of MN and NA in the peripheral erythrocytes of test fish. The present study was detected Pb accumulation in the muscles of fish, which may lead to alarming genotoxic risk in the peripheral erythrocytes of studied fish. It is suggested that regular monitoring is needed for genotoxin(s) contamination level in the study area and also other sites of Hooghly river by genetic biomonitoring, which is lacking. In future, the higher risk of genotoxicity may reduce the availability of this low-cost fish.