Heavy Metal Toxicity of Water of the Delhi Segment of River Yamuna to Fresh Water Fish Channa punctatus

摘要

The levels of toxic effluents released into fresh water bodies are increasing day by day. Lead and mercury are the most toxic heavy metals that are creating stress conditions for the aquatic life. This increase in toxic level is affecting the aquaticbiota. The present work outlines the stress in fresh water fish Channa punctatus due to contamination of water by lead and mercury, both individually and in combination. Different parameters like catalase (CAT), superoxide dis-mutase (SOD), DNA concentration, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were employed to check the degree of stress and damage caused to the fish as a result of heavy metal contamination of water. The results showed heavy metals affected the antioxidant defense system of C. punctatus. Lead and mercury exposure resulted in significant rise in the levels of LPO in the fish liver. In addition, heavy metal contamination decreased (P < 0.05) the levels of SOD, CAT, and GSH activities in the liver tissue of C. punctatus. Similar changes were observed in C. punctatus in contaminated Yamuna river water of the Delhi segment.