Impact of Chromium Oxide Nanoparticles on Mrigal Cirrhinus Mrigala

Abstract

Chromium is a toxic element in aquatic environments. This study evaluates the impact of chromium oxide nanoparticles on the biochemical and haematological parameters of Cirrhinus mrigala (Mrigal). Chromium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using the co-precipitation method and characterized via UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDAX, and FTIR. Toxicity tests were conducted over 96 hours at varying concentrations of chromium oxide nanoparticles. In survival studies, sub-acute toxicity was assessed over a 14-day period by monitoring mortality rates. Biochemical parameters, including protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels in the gill, muscle, and liver, were analyzed. Haematological parameters such as RBC, WBC, haemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were also measured. UV-visible absorption spectra confirmed the presence of chromium oxide nanoparticles within the 200–800 nm range, exhibiting a strong absorption band at 366 nm. SEM imaging at 2 µm revealed a feather-like morphology. The EDAX spectrum displayed two peaks between OKeV and 10KcV, with a chromium peak at 5.4 KeV and an oxygen peak at 0.5 KeV. FTIR analysis in the 4000–500 cm⁻¹ range identified functional groups such as alcohols, alkynes, anhydrides, and sulfonates. Results indicate a significant decrease in total protein content in the muscle, gill, and liver of C. mrigala exposed to chromium oxide nanoparticles. Additionally, all haematological parameters declined progressively with increasing nanoparticle concentration.