Physicochemical characterization of industrial effluents and their effect on fish survival

Abstract

Water samples taken from selected industrial drainages and receiving streams in and around Islamabad, Pakistan, during the summers of 1987 to 1990 showed disturbances in pH and low oxygen levels. Selected metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Hg) were higher in all effluents than in receiving waters. Static bioassays of the undiluted industrial effluents from three sites caused 100% mortality in carp during the first 24 hrs. Fishes also suffered 30 to 60% mortality when exposed to other undiluted industrial effluents and some mortality when industrial effluents were diluted by 50%.