Abstract
The aim of present study was to determine the LC50 value of in Caspian sea kutum. The results indicated that median lethal concentration (LC50) of Caspian sea kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure are 2.944, 2.756, 2.562 and 2.310 ppm, respectively and median lethal concentration (LC50) of lead to Caspian sea kutum (R. frisii kutum) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure as 315.841, 298.456, 281.419 and 268.065 ppm, respectively. LC50 increased with decrease in mean exposure times for both metals. Physiological responses like rapid opercular movement and frequent gulping of air was observed during the initial stages of exposure after which it became occasional. All these observations can be considered to monitor the quality of aquatic ecosystem and severity of pollution. Hence, concluded that copper is more toxic than lead for Caspian sea kutum (R. frisii kutum). Key words: Copper sulfate, lead nitrate, Rutilus frisii kutum, Caspian sea kutum, physiological responses, median lethal concentration (LC50).
Highlights
Heavy metal pollution in water is in large part due to agricultural run-off, industrial waste and mining activities
Coastal seawater is contaminated by heavy metals due to human activities with heavy metal contamination reported in aquatic organisms (Olojo et al, 2005)
Physiological responses like rapid opercular movement and frequent gulping of air was observed during the initial stages of exposure after which it became occasional
Summary
Heavy metal pollution in water is in large part due to agricultural run-off, industrial waste and mining activities. Metal concentrations in aquatic organisms appear to be of several magnitudes higher than concentrations present in the ecosystem (Laws, 2000) and this is attributed to bioaccumulation whereby metal ions are taken up from the environment by the organism and accumulated in various organs and tissues. The problem has become more serious for aquatic species that live close to the coastline where heavy metals tend to accumulate (Migliarini et al, 2005). Heavy metal contamination severely interfere with ecological balances of an ecosystem and produces devastating effects on environment quality; anthropogenic inputs like waste disposal directly adds to the burden of environmental degradation (Farombi et al, 2007)
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