Assessment of Zinc- and Lead-Induced Renal Toxicity in Freshwater Fish Channa punctatus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/ijpsr.v2i2.23.3139-342XKeywords:
Channa punctatus; Zinc chloride; Lead acetate; Nephrotoxicity; Renal biomarkers.Abstract
In the present study, the renal toxicity caused by zinc and lead in the freshwater fish Channa punctatus was evaluated. Tests of acute toxicity of these metals showed that the 96-hour LC₅₀ values for zinc chloride between Channa punctatus fish was determined as 50.00 mg/L while it was 25.00 mg/L for lead acetate. This means that lead is more toxic than zinc. The sub lethal exposure of the fish to these metals resulted in biochemical changes over the period of 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days. There was an increase in the levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid, BUN, and potassium while sodium and chloride were reduced as the duration of exposure increased. These changes indicate the impairment of renal function such as filtration of toxins, excretion of nitrogenous waste, tubule functioning, and maintaining of the electrolyte balance. Pathological studies showing the renal degeneration such as tubular degeneration, vacuolization, congestion, and necrosis in the fish exposed to these metals with the effect being more intense in the lead-acetate exposed fish. This shows that both of these metals posed nephrotoxicity in C. punctatus but lead caused more renal damages as compared to zinc and demonstrates the environmental hazard caused by heavy metal pollution in the freshwater zone.
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