Exploring the Impact of Sodium Arsenite on Lipid Metabolism in Heteropneustes fossilis and the Potential Chelating Effect of Zeolite

Arsenic toxicity is a global health problem affecting many millions of people. Arsenic, the metal pollutant found naturally in groundwater and unnaturally in mine waste sites and agricultural runoff, has been considered toxic to humans for several millennia. In the present work the effect of different concentrations of sodium arsenite on lipid metabolism in Heteropneustes fossilis, and the chelating effect of synthetic zeolite was studied from liver.

Fishes were exposed to two different concentrations of sodium arsenite (200 ml and 400 ml of 1% solution), for 3 different durations (3days, 7 days and 15 days). The concentrations of total Cholesterol (F=6.35>3.84 at 5% P), HDL (F=14.91>6.83 at 5% P), LDL (F=10.11>1.39at 5% P) and triglyceride (F=42.1>19.34 at 5% P) was found significantly increased along with increasing concentration and duration of sodium arsenite. The toxic effect was found recovered after the application of synthetic zeolite for all parameters, i.e., total cholesterol (F=8.04>3.12 at 5%P), HDL (F=14.96>6.83 at 5%P), LDL (F=1.57>1.39 at 5% P) and triglyceride (F=26.28>19.34 at 5% P). Statistical analysis of the results was done by two-way ANOVA.

The results suggest that zeolite is a potential compound for decreasing significantly the load of toxicity of arsenic in aquatic fauna.