Abstract
Static renewal bioassay tests were carried out to determine the acute toxicity (LC50) of metal cyanides to the Indian major carp Labeo rohita. The 96 hour LC50 value for the sodium cyanide, zinc cyanide and copper cyanide to the fish L. rohita were 0.32 mg/L 0.35 mg/L, and 1.1 mg/L respectively. Among the metal cyanide tested, sodium cyanide is found to be more toxic than the other cyanide complexes. In general behavioral responses of the fishes exposed to cyanide included uncontrolled swimming, erratic movements, loss of balance, moving spiral fashion with sudden jerky movements, vertical movements lying on the sides of the test chamber and rapid flapping of the opercular movements with opened mouth finally settles to the bottom.
Highlights
The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one of the most critical environmental problems of the century
Where as for copper cyanide zero percent mortality was observed at 0.95 mg/L and hundred percent mortality 1.2 mg/L (Table. 3).The estimated 96 h LC50 value (95% confidence limits) was found to be 1.1 mg/L (Table. 4)
Current study shows that metal cyanide complexes are highly toxic to the fingerlings of L. rohita the sodium and zinc cyanide
Summary
The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one of the most critical environmental problems of the century. As a result of the pollutants transported from industrial areas into the environment and their chemical persistence, many freshwater ecosystems are faced with high levels of xenobiotic chemicals (Brack, et al, 2002; Chebbi and David, 2010). Among the different sources which cause environmental deterioration cyanide is the most important one (Mathangi and Namashivayam 2000). A cyanide is any chemical compound that contains the cyano group (C≡N), which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Inorganic cyanides are generally salts of the anion CN- (Greenwood and Earnshaw 1997). The cyanide anion is a potent ligand for many transition metals (Sharpe 1976). The very high affinities of metals for this anion can be attributed to its negative charge, compactness, and ability to engage in π-bonding
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