Effect of Industrial Paints Effluent on Water Quality and Fungi Associated with Clarias Gariepinus

Abstract

The paint effluent was collected directly from one paint industry in Lagos from the releasing tank into a sterile bottle, and was transported with the use of ice pack to the laboratory to prevent contamination. Paint effluents contain a complex mixture of chemicals which may have potential threats to biota. The present study was carried out to assess the potential impacts of paint effluents entering the aquatic environment. The concentration of the toxicant was varied into 1.25mls/l, 2.50mls/l, 3.75mls/l, 5.0mls/l and 6.25mls/l into the separate tanks to pollute Claris garipenius. The heavy metals present in the paint effluent were lead (0.34±0.01ppm) and zinc (1.20±0.01 ppm). The volume of water used was 20 litres in the aquaria and concentration of the toxicant was varied into 1.25mls/l, 2.50mls/l, 3.75mls/l, 5.0mls/l and 6.25mls/l into the separate tanks containing the fish. Differences were observed in pH and the BOD5 of the fish water which were monitored for 96hours. There were increases in the fungal population with increase in the treatments of the pollutant. Fungi were isolated from the polluted fish aquaria and parts of the harvested fish. The fungi isolated include; Penicillium italicum, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullans, Articolospora inflata, Trichosporon sp, Mucor mucedo Rhodotorula rubra Rhizopus stolonifer Candida albicans. The fish water affect the pH, BOD5, fungal loads, fungal types, leads to bioaccumulation of heavy metals in catfish. The overall result of the research requires that care should be taken in discharging the effluent into the water bodies so as to minimise its impact on aquatic organisms.