The Hematological Assessment of Toxic Effects Induced by Bisphenol A (BPA) in Oreochromis mossambicus Fish Species

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical that has been detected in various aquatic environments. BPA is known to have endocrine-disrupting effects on aquatic organisms, but its impact on the hematological system is not well understood. In this study, we exposed Oreochromis mossambicus, a freshwater fish species, to different concentrations of BPA (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/L) for 20 days and measured the changes in their hematological parameters. We found that BPA exposure caused a significant decrease in red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) in the fish compared to the control and solvent control groups. The decrease in these parameters was dose-dependent, meaning that higher concentrations of BPA resulted in lower values. We also found that BPA exposure affected the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the fish, indicating that BPA altered the size and shape of the red blood cells. These results suggest that BPA has a negative impact on the blood system of the fish, affecting their oxygen transport, immunity, and hydration. The possible mechanisms of BPA-induced hematological alterations may involve oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and immune suppression. Therefore, BPA poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of Oreochromis mossambicus and other aquatic organisms. The present study has concluded that the BPA exposure can cause anemia, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction in Oreochromis mossambicus fish, depending on the dose and duration of exposure.