Assessment of Genetic Biomarkers with Special Reference to
Micronucleated and Binucleated Erythrocytes in Two Fish Species Grown at
Industrial Vicinity of Thermal Power Plants, Kolkata, India
Affiliations: Department of Environmental Science, Calcutta
University College of Science 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata – 700
019, India | West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Paribesh Bhavan,
Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700098
Abstract: Assessment of biological marker at gene level in fish, micronucleus
test as well as the study of abnormal shape of nucleus is a suitable measure,
in which the presence or absence of genotoxins can be detected in water. In
this study, frequencies of micronucleated (MN) and binucleated (BN)
erythrocytes were scored in gill (peripheral) and kidney (renal) blood of two
fishes, Labeo bata and Oreochromis mossambica inhabited in the pond located at
industrial vicinity of thermal power plant, Kolkata, India. Two experimental
sites were chosen, which were compared with pond located in non-industrial
vicinity (far away from this area) as control area. Highly significant
differences (P<0.001) were noticed for MN frequencies in gill and kidney
erythrocytes of experimental fishes, where kidney erythrocytes showed increased
value than gill erythrocytes. The comparison between gill and kidney
erythrocytes also showed highly significant differences (P<0.001). The
frequencies of BN were also counted separately for gill and kidney
erythrocytes, in which significantly increased values (P<0.001) were
obtained in comparison to control populations. These results confirmed that
micronucleation and binucleation in erythrocytes of fish could provide valuable
information regarding water quality status and also the health risk as
biomarkers at genetic level of particular test models.
Keywords: Biomarkers, cytogenotoxicity, nuclear abnormality, flyash, fish health
