Hematological changes in the Indian Murrel (Channa punctatus Bloch) in response to phenolic industrial wastes of the Bhilai Steel plant (Chhattisgarh, India)

Abstract

Hematological parameters may be considered useful as health indicators of fish during changing environmental conditions. Indiscriminate dumping of phenolic industrial wastes generated from the Coke ovens of steel plants into rivers pose serious threats to aquatic life. The present study describes the daily changes in the hematological parameters (TEC, TLC and gm % Hb) of the Indian murrel Channa punctatus (Bloch) upon short term exposure to low and high concentrations of phenolic effluent of the Bhilai Steel Plant, Chhattisgarh (INDIA). Commercially available Phenol in the same concentration has been taken as a reference for comparison. Fishes adapted to environmental change by significant augmentation in their TEC, TLC and Hb(g/dl) up to 120 hours followed by a tendency to resume back normal conditions thereafter.