STRUKTUR HATI BENIH IKAN BAUNG (Hemibagrus nemurus Blkr.) AKIBAT TERPAPAR KONSENTRASI SUBLETHAL MERKURI (Hg)

Abstract

Mercury is a dangerous pollutant in the aquatic environment. It is persistence and in low concentration it can be accumulated in aquatic organism. In high concentration, however, it may negatively affects the organisms. The aim of this research is to understand the condition of the liver of Hemibagrus nemurus Blkr. that were treated with mercury. There were 2 treatments applied, control (0 ppm) and the LC50 of the H. nemurus, which was 0.49 ppm. Total fishes use in this study was 20, 10 fishes for control and 10 fishes for treatment. After being treated for 96 hours, behaviour, morphological, and histological structure of the liver were studied. Results indicated that the treated fish shown abnormality in behaviour, it was frantic in the first day, become weaken and die within 96 hours. There was irritation in the skin. By the end of the experiment the liver of the treated fish was pale. Histological study shown that there were tissue abnormality such as cloudy swelling, blood congestion, haemorrhages, and necrosis. There were also black spots in the liver tissue and it is predicted as mercury accumulation. Based on data obtained it can be concluded that the mercury negatively affect the liver of H. nemurus