Arsenic Toxicity in Fish: Sources and Impacts

Abstract

Arsenic has become a major toxicological concern due to its rising concentrations in aquatic bodies. It is added to the water either by natural sources including weathering of rocks, sediments, volcanic eruptions and aquifers, or by anthropogenic sources including herbicides, wood preservatives, metal smelting, drugs, pesticides, burning of coal, agriculture runoff and petroleum refining processes among others. The untreated and uncontrolled discharge of arsenic by industries into the natural water bodies poses serious threat to aquatic fauna by deteriorating water quality and making it unsuitable for fishes. Fish is an important bioindicator of aquatic bodies and excessive arsenic concentration causes its bioaccumulation in fish organs and muscles. This deposited arsenic in the fish imposes serious damage to physiology, biochemical disorders such as poisoning of gills, livers, decrease fertility, tissue damage, lesions, and cell death. It also enters in the cell and produces reactive oxygen species which increases the level of stress which further concentrates the oxidative enzymes and cortisol levels in fish. The uncontrolled discharge of arsenic and its devastating impact on fish diversity is a major concern for aquaculture progress and economic stability. This, along with its other implications is the scope of this chapter.