TOXICITY OF "ABRO MOTOR FLUSH" TO Clariasgariepinus AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOME TARGET ORGANS

 ABSTRACT

One of the major cases of pollution has resulted from man's need for improvement in lifestyle and technology i.e. improvement technologies such as motorized vehicles and vessels. Man's need to maintain and keep these technologies on the move has led them to introduce maintenance products such as brake oil, carburetor cleaner, STP Oil wash etc. Of these products is ABRO Motor Flush which serve as oil wash for motors. ABRO Motor Flush containing naphthalene is a combustible liquid with chronic health effects and carcinogenic characteristics. Naphthalene is a PAH [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon] which occurs naturally as a component of coal tar and crude oil and is manufactured for use principally as a chemical intermediate (e.g. phthalic anhydride). Emerging detrimental effects of pollution to the aquatic environment have called for

immediate attention and action towards reducing pollution and its causes. Clarias gariepinus are tolerant of extreme environmental conditions, thereby making it adapt so readily to various environments, hence the choice for this study. ABRO Motor Flush was used for this study in four varying concentrations (1.00ml/L, L33ml/L, 1.67ml/L, and 2.00ml/L) and were duplicated: including the control treatment without a solution of ABRO Motor Flush were also prepared. All tests were conducted under standard bioassay procedures (American Public Health Association, 1977). Quality of water was checked at regular interval to observe effect of the chemical on the water, The LCsoof this product to C. gariepinusjuveniles is 1.92ml/L. Results obtained from the haematological analysis indicated that value of blood indices decreased with increasing concentrations of ABRO Motor Flush compared to those of the control fish, likewise Histopathological results obtained from the experiments indicate that ABRO Motor Flush had a direct impact on the tissues of the gills and livers of Clarias gariepinus at the end of the 96hour exposure period.