Determination of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd) into the body organs of selected fish, water, sediment, and soil samples from Head Punjnad and Head Taunsa, Punjab, Pakistan.

The present study was conducted on Head Punjnad (HP) and Head Taunsa (HT) to evaluate the contamination of Pb, Cr, As, Hg, and Cd in water, soil, sediment, fish as a whole and fish organs. Fish, water, soil and sediment samples were collected from different sites of HT and HP on a monthly basis for 8 months. Heavy metals in water, soil, and sediment were determined by a polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer and in fish and fish organs by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Contamination of Cd, Hg, and As was significantly (P<0.05) higher in water of HP as compared to HT, while Cr showed a non-significant (P>0.05) difference at HP and HT. Pb was significantly (P<0.05) higher in water of HT as compared to HP. In the case of soil, Cd, Hg, and Pb were higher at HT as compared to HP, while As and Cr were significantly (P<0.05) higher at HP as compared to HT. In sediment, contamination of Cd, Hg, and As were significantly (P<0.05) higher at HP as compared to HT, while the Cr difference was non-significant (P>0.05) but Pb showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher value at HT than HP. Cd accumulation in different fish species was recorded as R. rita ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃S. sarwari ˃C. idella ˃C. catla ˃N. notopterus ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita ˃C. carpio, respectively. Hg as O. niloticus ˃S. sarwari ˃R. rita ˃C. marulius ˃C. catla ˃N. notopterus ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita ˃C. carpio ˃C. idella, respectively. As as O. niloticus ˃R. rita ˃S. sarwari ˃C. marulius ˃C. catla ˃C. carpio ˃N. notopterus ˃C. idella ˃E. vacha ˃L. rohita, respectively. Cr accumulation recorded as L. rohita ˃C. idella ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃E. vacha ˃R. rita ˃C. catla ˃C. carpio ˃S. sarwari ˃N. notopterus, respectively. Pb accumulation in different fish species was recorded as C. idella ˃C. carpio ˃N. notopterus ˃L. rohita ˃O. niloticus ˃C. marulius ˃R. rita ˃S. sarwari ˃E. vacha ˃C. catla, respectively. Cd accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃liver ˃gills ˃muscle ˃skin ˃scale. Hg accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃gills ˃liver ˃skin ˃muscle ˃scale. As accumulation in different organs was recorded as kidney ˃liver ˃gills ˃muscle ˃skin ˃scale. Cr accumulation in different organs was recorded as gills ˃ liver ˃skin ˃muscle ˃kidney ˃scale. Pb accumulation in different organs was recorded as gills˃ kidney˃ skin˃ liver˃ muscle˃ scale.

Administration of vitamin E and C enhances immunological and biochemical responses against toxicity of silver nanoparticles in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the toxic effect of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on biochemical biomarkers, immune responses, and the curative potential effects of vitamin C and E on grass carp. Fish (n = 420) with an average initial body weight of 8.045 ± 0.13 g were shifted to glass aquaria (36 x 18 x 18 inches, filled with 160-L tap water) in triplicates. Aquaria were randomly designated as A, B, C, D with alone Ag-NPs (Control (0), 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 mg/L) and E, F, G with Ag-NPs + Vit. C + Vit. E (0.25+0.25+0.25, 0.50+0.50+0.50, 0.75+0.75+0.75 mg/L). NPs particles were administrated viz, oral and intravenous routes for 7 days. The results indicated that both routes had non-significant effect, but levels of Ag-NPs had significant effect. Treatments C, D and G showed significant decrease in levels of RBC, HGB and HCT except for WBC and NEUT levels, which significantly increased. ALT, ALP, AST, urea, and creatinine showed significant increase in activity in the C, D, and G groups. CAT, SOD decreased significantly in all Ag-NPs alone groups, while significantly increased with vitamin E and C. LYZ, TP, ALB, GLB showed significant low activity in the B, C, and D groups while significantly high activity in the E, F, and G groups. Cortisol, glucose and triglycerides showed significant increase in the B, C, and D groups, while E, F, and G groups showed significant low levels of triglycerides, COR, and GLU. Cholesterol level was same across all treatment groups. In conclusion, vitamin E and C as powerful antioxidants protect the fish against Ag-NPs except high dose level of 0.75mg/L, while 0.25mg/L of Ag-NPs was presumably safe for C. idella.