Heavy Metal Accumulation in Brain of Fishes Consequent to River Pollution

Periyar, one of the major rivers of Kerala state passes through the highly polluted industrial area, Eloor and Chitrapuzha region. Heavy metal pollution is one of the major problems of the water pollution in this region. Heavy metals are vigorous oxidizing agents and thus are highly bound to biochemical inability of tissues and thus affect fishes.

The main objective of the study was to check whether the heavy metals have targeted the most vitally protected tissue – the brain and to analyse the increasing tendency of heavy metal accumulation with age in fishes. The study area includes the highly polluted Eloor and Chitraphuzha area, nearly 11 kms away from Kochi.

The Fish, Gobius malabaricus, belonging to the family Gobidae were collected, weighed and grouped. Fishes were dissected for brain tissue, weighed, homogenized and heavy metals were detected using ICPAES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer). The study showed heavy metal accumulation in the order Copper ⩾ Manganese ⩾ Zinc (0.55 ppm). Cadmium and Chromium were found below detection limit. The greatest accumulation of heavy metals was found in the brain of older fishes. Accumulation of heavy metals even in the brain of fishes, thus, indicates the extent of heavy metal pollution in the industrial area.