Effect of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent on Blood Morphology of Fresh Water Fish in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand

The present paper deals with the toxicity of common mixed industrial effluent of Tarai Region of Uttarakhand on the blood morphology of an important fresh water fish (Cyprinus carpio var. communis). When fish was exposed to 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 per cent effluent concentrations, various morphological changes were observed but the changes were less in the specimens treated with 3, 4 and 5per cent effluent concentration compared to 6 and 7per cent. In fish exposed to 3, 4 and 5per cent concentrations, the formation of tear drop cell, binucleated cell, microcytes, spherocytes, roulex cell, sickle cell, agglutinated cells and rupturing of donnanens membrane in the cells were observed but in fishes exposed to 6 and 7 per cen effluent concentration the agglutination of hemoglobin, membrane degeneration and formation of elliptocyts, hemoglobin crystal, stomatocytes, ovalocytes, and inclusion bodies were found.