International Journal on Science and Technology

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Impact of Heavy Metal Contamination on Histopathological and Physiological Responses in Freshwater Fish: An Ecotoxicological Assessment

Author(s) Dr. N. Rajkumar
Country India
Abstract Heavy metal contamination in freshwater ecosystems has emerged as one of the most pressing ecotoxicological challenges of the twenty-first century, particularly in rapidly industrialising regions of South Asia. This study investigated the histopathological and physiological responses of the freshwater teleost Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) following sub-lethal exposure to a multi-metal mixture (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Hg, As, and Ni) sourced from industrial effluents discharged into the Krishna River basin, Telangana. The 96-hour LC50 concentrations were administered to fish at 10, 25, and 50 percent concentration after 28 days under a controlled laboratory environment. Hematologic tests showed a progressive decrease in red blood cell count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit dose-dependently with significant leucocytosis, which was a sign of immunosuppression and oxidative stress. Marked increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, and cortisol levels affirmed the presence of hepatotoxicity and systemic stress responses. A histopathology of liver, gill, kidney, and spleen revealed progressive lesions such as hepatocyte swelling, lamellar fusion, glomerular atrophy, and lymphocyte depletion. Higher doses of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, were rather inhibited, but malondialdehyde levels increased, and this proved that lipid peroxidation has taken place. The results clearly prove that sub-lethal exposure to heavy metals induces extreme and multi-organ toxicity in freshwater fish with dire consequences on aquatic biodiversity and human health in industrial areas of Telangana.
Keywords Labeo rohita; heavy metals; histopathology; oxidative stress; haematotoxicity; ecotoxicology; Krishna River; Telangana.
Published In Volume 16, Issue 3, July-September 2025
Published On 2025-08-08
DOI https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i3.10547
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