Published Paper Details:

Fishes were exposed to graded series of concentrations of the RMWE for acute toxicity studies. The MAC value deduced was 3.15 % of RMWE in 50 liters of water for 30 days. A safety concentration of 3.1 % of RMWE l-50 was selected for this study. Inappetence and ataxia was noticed in the contaminated fish on the very first day of introduction of the RMWE. Erratic movement, gradual onset of inactivity and loss of equilibrium was observed in toxicant exposed fish in comparison to non-contaminated fish. Reddening of eye was noted in the RMWE exposed fish. The body weight of the RMWE exposed fish depleted, when compared to control fish. Increase in body weight was marked in the control fish. In the exposed fish 53.2% depletion in body weight was noted on 28d exposure. When the exposed fish was changed to RMWE free medium, no recovery or insignificant partial recovery was noted. Significant depletion of total ATPase activity in the red mud waste extract exposed fish, impacted the metabolic activity, affected the movements of ions across the membrane and severely affected the energy metabolism and disturbed energy budget of the fish. No recovery was noted in the exposed fishes when transferred to toxicant free medium for the same period of exposure indicating irreversible damage caused to the exposed fish.