Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Environmental pollution by heavy metals has been of nagging concern globally. A preliminary study was undertaken to study structural alterations including lepidontal aberrations on the fish scales of Labeo rohita using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In addition, the atomic percentage of heavy metals on the scales were analysed by Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The scales were gathered during two seasons (winter and summer) from Ludhiana's fish markets. Various heavy metals including Aluminium (Al), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were detected on fish scales gathered from local fish markets compared to control groups. In addition, Silicon (Si) was also found on the scales gathered from markets. Heavy metal accumulation in the water source from which fish were gathered might be responsible for deposition of heavy metals on scale’s surface. Along with this, lepidontal anomalies on the scale’s dorsal surface were examined using EDX. In addition, structural aberrations such as broken, disorganized and eroded circuli, damaged margins of scales, alterations in focus and tubercles were also studied. The intensity of alterations was observed higher in scales of fish larger in size gathered from market compared to fish smaller in size, which might be due to longer duration of heavy metal exposure in the water source. The results clearly suggested that fish scales of L. rohita have a potential to be used as indicators of water quality.
Vaid et al. (Mon,) studied this question.