Cytogenetic and Tissue Toxicity by Synthetic Sindoor in Fresh Water Catfish Heteropneustes Fossilis
Tahir M. Malla and N. GaneshDepartment of Research, Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal India.
Abstract: Heavy metals are known to be persistent in the aquatic environment and gradually accumulate and magnify through the process known as bioaccumulation and biomagnifications. Vermillion, also called as Sindoor, a traditional cosmetic of Hindu married women has lead and mercury as heavy metals that lead to toxicity in aquatic animals. Plenty of synthetic sindoor used in idol immersion finally reaches the higher levels of food chain and can be harmful. Our present study was an attempt to determine the possibility of toxicity in fresh water catfish Heteropneustes fossilis induced by the synthetic sindoor. The study revealed chromosomal aberrations and tissue toxicity in fishes treated with higher doses of sindoor. However, no such observations were noted at the lower doses
Keywords: Sindoor (vermillion); Heavy metals; Heteropneustes fossilis; metaphase; tissue toxicity Back to TOC