VANADIUM TOXICOLOGY - AN ASSESSMENT OF GENERAL HEALTH, HEMATOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND ENERGY RESPONSE IN AN INDIAN CATFISH CLARIAS-BATRACHUS (LINN)

The pervasive occurrence of vanadium in nature and its use in various industrial processes has increased its inputs in the environment. This has prompted us to elucidate the impact of vanadium on aquatic enviro nment, the primary body for industrial effluent discharge. The energy response of the fish, Clarias batrachus, its haematological status inc luding haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Ht), leutocrit (Lt), mean corpus cular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscul ar haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) etc. And overall general health co nditions have been observed to be significantly hampered leading to de leterious alterations in the general metabolism of the fish following long term exposure to vanadate. The increase in muscle and tissue lact ic acid (2-12 fold) in association with decrease in pyruvic acid (72% in mucle; 26% in liver) reflect a shift towards an anaerobic metabolis m of the fish. We conclude that vanadium could be toxic for the fish i n question under long term exposure at the doses under observation (2- 10 mg L-1).