Toxicity and Ethological Responses of Mystus vittatus (Bloch) Exposed to Distillery Wastewater

Abstract

This paper deals with the acute toxicity of distillery wastewater on freshwater catfish, Mystus vittatus (Bloch), at different concentration and duration of exposure on the mortality and ethological alterations. The LC50 for 96 hours of treated distillery effluent for Mystus vittatus was 3.38 % (v/v). The result revealed that mortality rate depends upon concentrations of distillery wastewater and duration of exposure. The effluent exposed test fish showed alterations in behavioural responses viz., hyperactivity (jumping and surface activity), convulsion, somersaulting activity, eye and fin movement and equilibrium status. It was observed that with the increasing concentration and exposure period these activities were relatively increased, expressing the sign of distress. Thus, the result of present study revealed that fish, Mystus vittatus are sensitive to distillery wastewater and can be used as biological indicators.