TOXICOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) BIOACCUMULATION IN LABEO ROHITA: A HISTOPATHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are highly carcinogenic chemical compounds banned in India and some other countries, used in industrial and consumer products. PCBs have devastating effects on ecological balance of the recipient environment and a diversity of organisms. Water pollution by PCBs is a global concern which represents a growing threat to the aquatic animals and also human beings. Fish are known for their low susceptibility to PCBs toxicity. Since toxicity is based on the effect that a toxicant produces at a target organ within an organism, establishing the relationship between the concentration of substance at the target organ and the subsequent toxic effect can provide tool for predicting toxicity. To investigate chronic Polychlorinated biphenyls sublethal effects to Labeo rohita (3 treatments) were determined. Labeo rohita belonging to the family Cyprinidae, weighing 25-30g procured from local fish dealer. Fish were acclimatized for a week at holding temperature of 18-220C. Chronic PCBs Lc50 wass 0.90 ppm for 28 days, PCBs deposition in tissues had increased significantly with dose and exposure duration dependent manner. Several histological alterations were noted in the organs like Gills, Gonads, Liver and Kidney of all treated compared to control group. Hence Labeo rohita found less susceptible to PCBs toxicity. To gain insight into the mechanisms of the low susceptibility of Labeo rohita, we aim to evaluate this research