Investigations on paraquat toxicity in fishes

Nemcsók, J., Orbán, L., Asztalos, B., Buzás, Z., Németh, A. and Boross, L. (1983) Investigations on paraquat toxicity in fishes. Water International, 10 (2). pp. 79-81.

Abstract

The effect of paraquat in different concentrations on three fish species, carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix V.) and sheatfish (Silurus glanis L.) with different feeding habits was investigated.

The harmful effect of the chemical investigated was determined by measuring transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase enzyme activities in blood sera. Paraquat significantly increased transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activity and blood glucose level, at the same time decreasing the cholinesterase enzyme activity.

From the data it can be concluded that paraquat has more than one deadly effect: it damages the liver and the kidneys, reduces O2 uptake by injuringgill epithelium, and can cause serious problems in the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publisher:	Routledge as part of the Taylor and Francis Group
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/30362

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