Multiple Biomarker Approach for the Assessment of Genotoxicity in Major Crops Treated with Domestic Waste and Industrial Effluents Discharge Through Chakbandi Drain into River Chenab, Pakistan

Abstract

In this investigation, composite drain water concentrations were collected from five selected sites of Chakbandi drain in the month of April, May and June, 2016. These composite drain water concentrations were applied to fingerling’s of selected fish species namely, Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala in laboratory conditions. LC50 were determined and sub-lethal dilutions i.e. 20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% of drain water were tested for acute toxicity trial from April to June, 2016. All the water quality parameters i.e. DO, pH, temperature, conductivity, TDS, salinity, TSS, BOD and COD and ten selected heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Mn, Cd, Co, Ni, Sn, Hg, Zn and Pb) recorded from drain water were found to be above the admissible limits as suggested by FAO/ WHO. Bioaccumulation of these ten heavy metals in the muscle tissues of fish species revealed highly significant variations. Cirrhinus mrigala showed the higher level of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their muscles when compared with Labeo rohita and Catla catla. Among all the treated fish species, Catla catla showed the maximum growth performance with respect to Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala. The control fish showed more growth performance than the treated fish group. Maximum mean WBCs were recorded from Cirrhinus mrigala whereas minimum from Catla catla. Similarly, minimum level of RBCs, Hb, HCT and MCV were recorded from Cirrhinus mrigala in comparison with treated and control groups. In this study, DNA damage was quantified in the fish peripheral erythrocytes through different types of damaged cells. Maximum frequency for DNA damaged cells was measured in the erythrocytes of Cirrhinus mrigala than Labeo rohita and Catla catla. Cirrhinus mrigala exhibited the maximum average tail DNA length and average tail moment when compared with Labeo rohita and Catla catla. Maximum mean total no. of cells with micronuclei and maximum micronuclei frequency was recorded in erythrocytes of Cirrhinus mrigala than Labeo rohita and Catla catla. When histopathological analysis of control and treated fish was compared, control fish manifested the normal structures than treated fish which reflected various alterations with respect to liver, kidney, gills and muscles. Conclusively, all the multiple biomarkers performed the reliable role for the evaluation o environmental pollution. Furthermore, multiple biomarker findings are conducive to an early prognosis for environmental management and may assist us in planning strategies to minimize the ecotoxicological impacts of pollutants reaching in freshwater reservoirs, aquatic fauna, particularly fish and indirectly human populations.