PAPER TITLE :ACUTE TOXICITY OF COPPER II CHLORIDE DIHYDRATE ONCLARIAS GARIEPINUS

JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 6 NUMBER 2 2015

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : OLUFAYO, M. O. and AKINLADE, D. A.
  • Abstract:

Copper II Chloride Dihydrate (CuCl2.2H2O) is a copper based product used in different
fields, both for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes. The aim of this study was to determine
the level at which it could be toxic on fish when discharged into the aquatic water bodies, thus, the
toxic effects of Copper II Chloride Dihydrate (0.0 mg/l,0.2mg/l, 0.4mg/l,0.6mg/l, 0.8mg/l and 1.0mg/
l) on Clarias gariepinus gills, liver and kidneys were determined under laboratory conditions. The
exposure period lasted 96 hours. The results showed that in the gills, there were loss of lamella,
filament degeneration, congestion of the sub mucosa and an extensive necrosis. The liver showed
inflammation of the cells, mild and severe diffuse vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes, necrosis
of the hepatic cells and hemorrhage of the sinusoids. The kidney also showed slight cellular changes,
space formation, fragmentation of nuclear chromatin, mild haemorrhage of the interstitium and
severe congestion of haemorrhage at renal interstitium while erratic movement, gulping for air
hyperventilation, inactiveness, skin discolouration and loss of reflex were observed in the test
fish.These damages became severe with increasing concentrations (0.6mg/l, 0.8mg/l and 1.0mg/l)
of Copper II Chloride Dihydrate and the time of exposure. The 96-h LC50value was 0. 6mg/l, this was
the concentration at which 50% of the experimental fish died however normal features were observed
in all the gills, liver and kidneys of C. gariepinus from the control (0.0mg/l) tanks. With the
different alterations observed from the gill, liver and kidney structures of the test fish, this study
suggests that the usage of CuCl2.2H2O should be controlled near water bodies.