Response of fungal community in the unpolluted and polluted (textile and distillery wastes) habitats.

37 fungal species were recorded, maximum found in textile wastewater polluted habitats (35) followed by unpolluted (15) and distillery polluted (6) habitats. Fungal diversity in sediment samples of textile wastewater polluted habitats (25) was a little lower than wastewater samples (32), whereas it varied little both in the samples of unpolluted habitats (Sambhar wetlands: 5-6; Garden tanks: 9-10) and distillery waste (3-5). Seasonal variation in species diversity was more pronounced in the textile wastewater polluted habitats. Their minimum number was often found during the rainy season while maximum in the winter season, in the polluted habitats but during summer in the unpolluted habitats. Aspergillus was the most diverse genus represented by 7 species, followed by Cladosporium and Fusarium (3 species each) while Drechslera, Rhizopus and Trichoderma had 2 species each. The remaining genera (18) were monotypic. Colony Forming Units (CFUs) were also maximum in the textile wastewater polluted habitats (5.6-1898.9 x 10(3)/L), followed by unpolluted (6.7-560.0 x 10(3)/L) and distillery waste polluted habitats (3.1-53.3 x 10(3)/L), being usually higher in the sediment samples. Their number also varied seasonally, being maximum during winter season in the water samples, whereas in summer in the sediment samples. Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. sphaerospermum and Penicillium chrysogenum usually contributed maximum to the CFU values in the polluted as well as in unpolluted habitats.

Effect of an acute and chronic toxicity of four commercial detergents on the freshwater fish Gambusia affinis Baird & Gerard.

The toxic effects of four commercial detergents (two washing powders and two cakes) are reported in this paper on behavior, mortality and RBC counts of a freshwater fish Gambusia affinis. During acute toxicity studies (96h), surface movements of fish increased markedly for 24h, only at higher concentrations (>10 ppm) of all the four detergents. Thereafter, they were lethargic and bottom dwellers similar to those exposed for a period of 30 days in the longterm ecotoxicological studies made on detergent powders at a sublethal concentration (10 ppm). The detergents exposed to fish were found slippery due to mucous secretion. Hemorrhage regions were also found on their gills. The dissolved oxygen content also decreased (10-18%) in the detergent treatments of higher concentration (> 10 ppm). During acute toxicity studies, cakes (LC50 = 6.69 - 19.98ppm) were found more toxic than powders (LC50 = 18.34-20.72ppm). In comparison to the control fish, RBC counts decreased (12-64%) in the detergent exposed fish, being more pronounced among those exposed to cakes. The chronic exposure (30 days) of the fish also resulted in reduction in the RBC counts (41-58%). It is thus evident that all the four detergents are toxic to the fish Gambusia affinis.