Toxicity Studies Of Petroleum Drilling Mud Additive (Chrome Lignosuldonate) On Microbial Floria Of Fresh Water Fish (Heterobranchus Longitfillis) In A Defined Environment

ABSTRACT

The microbiological analysis' of fresh water fish (Ilelerobranchus Longilifis) and the water environment were done to determine the sensitivity of the fish to petroleum drilling additive Chrome I ignosul fonate at different concentrations. The concentrations of 750mg/i and above of the test Chrome lignosulfonate had acute toxic effect on the fishes. The results of the microbiological analysis of the fresh untreated fishes and water revealed a decrease in microbial count after introduction of Chrome lignosulfonate. The bacterial isolates were Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia co/i, Bacillus sp, Aeromonas sp, Proteus sp, Micrococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, Serratia sp and Staphylococcus aureus. Fungal isolates were Fusariuni sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicilliu,n sp, Mucor sp and Rhizopus sj. The bacterial and fungal counts for untreated fresh water fish were 9.2 x 106 and 5.7 x 106 cfu/ml respectively, while those of fresh water were 9.7 x 106 and 5.14 x i06 respectively. Microbial count after treatment decreased with increase in concentration of Chrome Iignosulfonatc. Chromium content was undetected in fresh untreated fishes hut were detected in fishes treated with different concentrations of Chrome lignosulfonate.