Sub-Lethal Effects of Exposure to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Growth Indices and Body Biochemical Composition of Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio)

Due to the increasing use of nanoparticles in human activities, as well as its role in reducing the adverse effects of heavy metals on living organisms, at this study the effects of sub-lethal concentrations of copper nanoparticles were discussed on growth factors and biochemical composition carcass of common carp.

82 carp with an average weight of 42 ± 2 g was prepared and after adaptation for the laboratory condition, were exposed at 42 days at three treatments (10, 40, 80 ppm) and three replicates respectively, also a control group were prepared with three replications under the affect of sub-lethal concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles.

Analysis of growth indices showed that all growth indices had significantly different (P<0/05) with metal treatments in compared to the control group. So the control group had the highest average body weight, percent of body weight, SGR rate, and feed conversion efficiency with averaging 2.93. The lowest specific growth rate and the highest rate of conversion were related to the treatment number three (80 ppm), respectively. The amount of ash, fat, protein and maximum moisture was observed at the control group. The highest percentage of protein and fat was at treatment (3) and concentration of 80 milligrams per litre of copper oxide nanoparticles that in this regard showed significant differences (P<0.05) with the control group.

The results indicate that the presence of copper oxide nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems have negative effects on growth and biochemical composition of fish carcasses even at sub-lethal concentrations, that by increasing the concentration of the nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems, the influence of these effects will become clearer.