ACUTE TOXICITY AND ETHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF FRESHWATER FISH CHANNA PUNCTATA (BLOCH) EXPOSED TO HOUSEHOLD SYNTHETIC DETERGENT

The detergents are household chemical cleaning compounds used in a wide range of our daily life for diverse purposes. 'Ghari' is a common detergent used largely in India. The present study examined the effects of a commercial household synthetic detergent 'Ghari' on the mortality and behavioural changes in the freshwater fish Channa punctata. The median lethal concentration (LC ) of this detergent was determined using probit analysis software (SPSS version 50 26) at 95% confidence limit. The 96h LC50 value for Channa punctata was found to be 20.121 mg/L. Toxicity increased significantly with higher detergent concentrations and longer exposure periods. Morphological changes observed after 96 hours of exposure included body and gill discoloration, damaged fins, and excessive mucus secretion. Behavioural alterations in detergentexposed fish included erratic swimming, restlessness, aggression, hyperactivity, and frequent movement near the bottom of the tank. Further research is recommended to explore the physiological effects for a better understanding of environmental impacts.