Browsing by Author "Mnkandla, Siphile"

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    Effects of Industrial Effluent on Aquatic Organisms: A Study Using Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio) as a Model Of Evaluation
    (African Journal of Science and Research, 2016-09-24) Mnkandla, Siphile; Ndebele, Donald; Teta, Charles; Basopo, N.
    Industrial and municipal wastewaters are among the major contributors of chemical pollutants that enter aquatic bodies and affect aquatic biota, accounting for several thousand types of chemicals released into the environment. We exposed adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to 3 dilutions of effluent (0.1 %, 0.5% and 1.0%)v/v and tap water (control) for 14 days to assess potential effects of industrial effluent on aquatic vertebrates. Antioxidant enzyme activities namely; superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase were determined to evaluate oxidative stress effects in effluent exposed fish. The endocrine disrupting capability of the effluent was also investigated using vitellogenin assay. The results showed highest enzymatic antioxidant activity in fish exposed to the lowest industrial effluent concentration of 0.01% and increasing industrial effluent concentration reduced the antioxidant enzyme activity in exposed fish. A significant vitellogenin induction was observed in male fish that were exposed to the 0.01%, 0.1 %, 0.5% and 1.0% effluent concentrations compared the control. A non-linear dose response curve in vitellogenin induction was observed in male fish exposed to increasing effluent concentrations, indicating that complex interactive effects associated with high levels of chemicals in mixtures. The results showed that industrial effluent contain potent oxidative-stress-inducers and endocrine-disrupting-substances which affect the well-being of aquatic organisms.