Abstract
The present study was conducted to examine the contamination of rivulet situated at Kasimpur, Aligarh (27.218° N; 79.378° E). It receives the wastewater of Harduaganj Thermal Power Plant (HTPS) containing fly ash and heavy metals. Among the heavy metals estimated in the rivulet water, Fe (8.71 mgL-1) was present in the highest concentration followed by Cu (0.86 mgL-1), Zn (0.30 mgL-1) Mn (0.21 mgL-1), Ni (0.12 mgL-1), Co (0.11 mgL-1) and Cr (0.10 mgL-1). The values for the heavy metals such as Fe, Ni and Mn were beyond the limits set by UNEPGEMS. Bioaccumulation of these heavy metals was detected in tissues such as gills, liver, kidney, muscle and integument of the fish Mastacembelus armatus. Accumulation of Fe (213.29 – 2601.49 mgkg-1.dw) was highest in all the organs. Liver was the most influenced organ and integument had the least metal load. The accumulation of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn, observed in the tissues were above the values recommended by FAO/WHO. Biochemical estimation related to blood glucose, liver and muscle glycogen conducted showed significant (p < 0.01) elevation in blood glucose content over control (17.73%), whereas liver glycogen dropped significantly (p < 0.01) over control (−89.83%), and similarly muscle glycogen also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) over control (−71.95%), suggesting enhanced glycolytic capacity to fuel hepatic metabolism. Histopathological alterations were also observed in selected organs (gills, liver and kidney) of Mastacembelus armatus.
Highlights
Sewage and industrial disposal has greatly increased the addition of heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystems
The heavy metal content in rivulet water were in the order Fe (8.71 mgL-1) > Cu (0.86 mgL-1) > Zn (0.3 mgL-1) > Mn (0.21 mgL-1) > Ni (0.12 mgL-1) > Co (0.11 mgL-1) > Cr (0.10 mgL-1) (Table 1) where it was found that Fe, Ni, Mn and Cr exceeded the recommended values set by UNEPGEMS (2006) but Cu and Zn were within the tolerable range
The heavy metal content estimated in water were present in the order Fe > Cu > Zn >Mn> Ni > Co > Cr where it was found that Fe, Ni, Mn and Cr content exceeded the recommended guidelines set by UNEPGEMS (2006) due to which the water becomes unfit for the inhabitant fishes
Summary
Sewage and industrial disposal has greatly increased the addition of heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystems. In Aligarh as well there are very few studies to focus on this aspect It influences the productivity and health status of water bodies as abnormal changes in physicochemical conditions and other quality parameters have their impact on diversity. This reservoir is damaged completely because of the discharge of effluents from Harduaganj Thermal Power Station. This has changed the condition of reservoir drastically (Figure 2). We are being deprived other needs consumption by cattle and other domestic animals This attracted a lot of attention as another aquatic ecosystem may get damaged and have the same fate as the reservoir. This will check its impact on both agriculture and aquaculture especially from the capture fisheries point of view and small water bodies usually meet the need of local population
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