Heavy metals (chromium, copper and cadmium) induced oxidative stress in Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) during acute and chronic toxicity experiment

Abstract

The acute and chronic studies was carried out on Labeo rohita in order to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters (GSH, SOD & LPO) in the liver tissues of the Labeo rohita. The acute study was comprises of the 96 hour (h) study whereas; the chronic study was for a period of two months. The juvenile fish with an average weight of 98 g was treated with the various concentrations of the heavy metal salts in order to assess the effect of chromium, copper and cadmium. The waterborne salts of heavy metals showed significant differences in the liver tissues of the juvenile fishes for all the three parameters viz; GSH, SOD and LPO while treated with different concentrations during the acute and chronic study. The results revealed the fact that among the three heavy metal pollutants the GSH among the heavy metals showed the order Cd > Cu > Cr for both the acute and chronic study. The order of AST level was Cd > Cu > Cr for the acute study and Cu > Cd > Cr for the chronic study. Similarly the TAS was present in order Cd > Cu > Cr for the acute study while Cu > Cd > Cr order was observed for the chronic study. The overall results showed that heavy metal pollutants are cause of oxidative stress on fish.