Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

The Toxicity Effect of Detergent on Enzymatic and Protein Activities of African Mud Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

Nkpondion NN, Ugwumba OA and Esenowo IK

The toxicities of commercial detergent (Ariel; Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate), a household cleaning agent was investigated on some enzymatic and protein activities of juvenile African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fishes were exposed to lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of detergent for 21 days in a renewal bioassay procedure. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) were derived using Finney probit method while protein and enzymatic activities were determined using Biuret and Randox methods respectively. The LC50 values for 96 hours acute bioassay test was 0.11 g/l. Detergent exposed fish showed significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in serum AST (109.00 ± 3.79 to 111.00 ± 3.80); liver globulin at 0.008 g/l (2.47 ± 0.03) and 0.013 g/l (2.57 ± 0.03). Significant decrease was recorded in liver AST, (ALP and creatinine 137 ± 4.67 to 151 ± 2.52; 80.67 ± 0.88 to 86.67 ± 3.67 and 0.27 ± 0.07 to 0.60 ± 0.00 respectively across all sub- lethal concentrations. The enzymes and proteins from serum, liver and heart tissues of fish have shown vividly that detergent is capable of inducing adverse effects and impacting on the health of fish. Therefore, the presence of detergent in aquatic ecosystem could be dangerous to fish and subsequently human health.