Sains Malaysiana 54(6)(2025): 1439-1449

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5406-01

 

Assessment of Acute Toxicity, Behaviors and Water Parameter Correlations in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Exposed to Iron Salts

(Penilaian Ketoksikan Akut, Tingkah Laku dan Korelasi Parameter Air pada Tilapia Nil (Oreochromis niloticus) Terdedah kepada Garam Besi)

 

CARINA B. ORDEN*

 

Faculty of Chemistry, Bicol University Tabaco, Tabaco City, Philippines

 

Diserahkan: 8 Julai 2024/Diterima: 27 Mac 2025

 

Abstract

The study determined the acute toxicity levels and behaviors of Nile tilapia after 96 h exposure to iron salts. It determined the significant correlations (Pearson’s r) between the water parameters, behaviors, and toxicity levels at varied time intervals and concentrations. This study adopted an experimental design framework, randomized triplicate sampling, and OECD Test Guideline No. 203. The acute toxicity test was done in a static method, behavioral clinical signs and opercular beats. Water parameters of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured using standard procedures of the OECD Test Guideline No. 203 and Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The findings showed the lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and lethal time (LT₅₀) of total ferrous and ferric sulfate were 135.6 mg/L, 9.9 mg/L, and 340 h and 216 h, respectively, through probit analysis. Behaviors were abnormal bottom distribution, hypoventilation, abnormal pigmentation, and bioaccumulation of ferric ions. Opercular beats (OB) decreased as the concentration increased after 96-h exposure. Strong correlations (α = 0.05) were observed between concentration and the water parameters OB and pH in the ferric sulfate solutions, between pH, hardness, TOC, OB, and DO in ferrous sulfate solutions. The findings showed that ferric sulfate poses a greater risk than ferrous sulfate to test animals, implying its use and discharge should be limited in aquatic environments. The water parameters that significantly affected the toxicity levels must be monitored and regulated to mitigate potential adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems.     

Keywords: Acute toxicity; behaviors; iron salts; water parameters

 

Abstrak

Kajian ini menentukan tahap ketoksikan akut dan tingkah laku ikan tilapia Nil selepas 96 jam terdedah kepada garam besi. Ia menentukan korelasi yang ketara (Pearson's r) antara parameter air, tingkah laku dan tahap ketoksikan pada selang masa dan kepekatan yang berbeza. Kajian ini menggunakan rangka kerja reka bentuk uji kaji, pensampelan tiga kali ganda rawak dan Garis Panduan Ujian OECD No. 203. Ujian ketoksikan akut dilakukan dalam kaedah statik, tanda klinikal tingkah laku dan denyutan operkular. Parameter air pH, suhu, oksigen terlarut (DO), dan jumlah karbon organik (TOC) diukur menggunakan prosedur standard Garis Panduan Ujian OECD No. 203 dan Persatuan Ahli Kimia Analitik Rasmi (AOAC). Hasil menunjukkan kepekatan maut (LC₅₀) dan masa maut (LT₅₀) bagi jumlah ferus dan ferik sulfat masing-masing ialah 135.6 mg/L, 9.9 mg/L dan 340 jam dan 216 jam melalui analisis probit. Tingkah laku adalah taburan bawah yang tidak normal, hipoventilasi, pigmentasi yang tidak normal dan biotumpukan ion ferik. Denyut operkular (OB) menurun apabila kepekatan meningkat selepas pendedahan selama 96 jam. Korelasi yang kuat (α = 0.05) diperhatikan antara kepekatan dan parameter air OB dan pH dalam larutan ferik sulfat, antara pH, kekerasan, TOC, OB dan DO dalam larutan ferus sulfat. Hasil menunjukkan bahawa ferik sulfat menimbulkan risiko yang lebih besar daripada ferus sulfat untuk menguji haiwan, membayangkan penggunaan dan pelepasannya harus dihadkan dalam persekitaran akuatik. Parameter air yang mempengaruhi tahap ketoksikan dengan ketara mesti dipantau dan dikawal untuk mengurangkan potensi kesan buruk ke atas ekosistem akuatik.

Kata kunci: Garam besi; ketoksikan akut; parameter air; tingkah laku

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: cborden@bicol-u.edu.ph