Abstract
Objective: Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most hazardous heavy metals in aquatic environments and could threaten aquatic organisms including fish. The present study was carried out to know the protective effects of calcium (Ca) and selenium (Se) in reducing the Cd bioaccumulation in selected tissues of fresh water fish, Oreochromis mossambicus.
 Methods: The fresh water fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia) was brought from the local ponds and were allowed for acclimatization to the laboratory conditions. After acclimatization, fish were exposed to sublethal concentration of Cd (1/10th of LC50/48h, i.e., 5 ppm) for 7, 15 and 30 d (d) period. 15d Cd-exposed fish were divided into three groups. The first group of fish were subjected to Ca (1 ppm) supplementation, second group received only Se (1 ppm) supplement and third group of fish were supplemented with the combination of both Ca and Se at the above said doses and observed for 7, 15 and 30d time periods. After specific time intervals, liver, kidney, gill and intestine tissues were isolated and used for Cd bioaccumulation studies.
 Results: Cd concentration levels significantly (P<0.05) increased in the test tissues with increased period of exposure. Maximum Cd accumulation was found in 30d Cd-exposed fish kidney tissue (22.611±0.676 μg/gm wet wt. of the tissue). However, after supplementing with Ca and/or Se, there was a significant reversal in the levels of Cd concentration in all the test tissues. Maximum reduction was observed under Ca alone supplementation.
 Conclusion: The present study clearly reveals that individual supplementation of Ca tends to detoxify the Cd body burden in the test tissues than the other modes of supplementation.
Highlights
Metal pollution is one of the most dangerous consequences of industrial activities to the aquatic environment [1]
The bioaccumulation of heavy metals, biochemical, pathological and antioxidant alterations induced by different heavy metals and organic compounds has been studied by several investigators in the different tissues of rats and fish [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]
Statistical significance was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT)
Summary
Metal pollution is one of the most dangerous consequences of industrial activities to the aquatic environment [1]. Because of their persistent nature and slow elimination from environmental compartments, metals are the largest and most widespread groups of contaminants [2]. Heavy metals accumulate in the tissues of aquatic animals and may become toxic when accumulation reaches a substantially high level. Cd accumulates in most tissues and organs with liver, kidney, and gill reaching relatively high levels. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals, biochemical, pathological and antioxidant alterations induced by different heavy metals and organic compounds has been studied by several investigators in the different tissues of rats and fish [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]
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