Bisphenol-A Induced Changes in Blood Indices of Channa punctatus and Alleviation with Vitamin C

Abstract

Bisphenol A, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical, is widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. With increasing industrialisation, the release of Bisphenol A in the environment is increasing in India. Bisphenol A is released in the environment from landfill leachates, industrial point sources, municipal sewage and by burning. Water bodies are the ultimate sink for Bisphenol A. People consuming fish captured from water bodies polluted with Bisphenol A can be exposed to the chemical through the fish. Channa punctatus, is an important food fish of India and neighbouring areas. In this study the effect of 30 days Bisphenol A exposure on the haematological parameters of Channa punctatus was assessed. Vitamin C, a known antioxidant, was shown to improve the changes in almost all haematological indices tested except at the highest concentrations of Bisphenol A used in this study. This study shows that Channa punctatus can be used as a useful sentinel species to assess pollution of water bodies by Bisphenol A and that the deleterious effects of Bisphenol A are probably caused by increasing oxidative stress in tissues which can be offset by vitamin C.