Effect of Environmental Pollution by Phenol on Some Physiological Parameters of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are common water pollutants and include wide variety of organic chemicals. In Egypt, effluents of oil refineries contain phenol and the receiving waters are therefore subjected to low level of chronic phenol pollution.The present study deal with this problem in fish.The effect of three sublethal concentrations (0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 mg/L representing 1/40,1/20 and 1/10 LC respectively) of phenol were 50. investigated on some physiological parameters of Oreochromis niloticus after long term exposure (16 weeks). Results showed that serum tri-iodothyronine (T ) and thyroxin (T ) hormones decreased significantly, serum 34 total cholesterol and lipids content significantly increased, genotoxic potential was observed through the increase in number of micronuclei production. Also decrease in growth performance and accumulation of phenol in fish tissues (liver, muscles and gills) were detected. It was concluded that phenol causes a lot of harmful effects to fish and of public health concern. Industrial drainage water must be treated before entering the water resources.