Nickel Bioaccumulation in Labeo rohita as a Biomarker of Post-Monsoon Heavy Metal Mobilization in Mining-Impacted Freshwaters

IJEP 46(5): 424-432 : Vol. 46 Issue. 5 (May 2026)

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Ashok Dhayalan*, R. Kushbu, Mamatha N. Murthy, Arun Kumar S. and Saraswathi

Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Department of Life Sciences, Bengaluru – 560 077, Karnataka, India

Abstract

This study evaluates the spatial and seasonal variation of nickel (Ni) contamination in pond water and its bioaccumulation in the heart and spleen tissues of Labeo rohita, the second most consumed fish in the Kolar gold fields (KGF) region, Karnataka, India. Water and fish samples were collected from four sampling sites with varying proximity to mining tailings and residential areas during the pre-monsoon (May) and post-monsoon (September) of 2024. Heavy metal nickel concentrations in water were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, while retention in fish tissues was assessed following acid digestion methods. Results showed significantly higher Ni concentrations in September (0.065 mg/L) compared to May (0.019 mg/L), correlating with monsoon-driven leaching from gold ore mining dumps. Bioaccumulation levels in fish tissues increased and were statistically significant over time, with Ni levels in heart and spleen tissues reaching 20.4 mg/kg and 48.9 mg/kg, respectively, though remaining below the tolerable limit of 80 mg/kg. Strong positive correlations (p<0.05) were observed between seasonal values on days 15 and 30. The findings highlight the impact of seasonal hydrology on pollutant mobility and the potential ecological risks of sublethal metal exposure, emphasizing the need for long-term monitoring and the use of Labeo rohita as a sentinel species for freshwater contamination.

Keywords

Heavy metals, Nickel, Bioaccumulation, Labeo rohita, Kolar gold fields, Aquatic pollution, Seasonal variation

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