Acute toxicity of detergent on juveniles of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

The acute toxicity of commercial detergent, (Good mama) containing linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LABS) was determined using juveniles of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus in 96 hours bioassay. After acclimatization, the fish were exposed to concentrations of 0mg/l, 20mg/l, 30mg/l, 40mg/l, 50mg/l and 60mg/l respectively. The mean lethal concentration, LC50 values for the detergent was 37.65mg/l. With increase in concentration of the toxicant, respiratory disturbances, loss of balance, erratic swimming before death, were observed in the exposed fish. This varied greatly with difference in concentration of the toxicant and these showed that mortality increases with increase in concentration. The differences observed in the mortalities of C. gariepinus juveniles were significant (p