Browsing by Author "SHAZMA YAMIN & RABYIA AFZAL"

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    TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF INDIAN BULLFROG SPECIES ORGANS AND WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM SIALKOT AND GUJRANWALA DISTRICTS
    (DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY KINNAIRD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN UNIVERSITY LAHORE,, 2023-06-15) SHAZMA YAMIN & RABYIA AFZAL
    Amphibians are a class of cold blooded animals, which include frogs, salamanders, and caecilians etc. The Indian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus), native to the Indian subcontinent is a vertebrate tetrapod which is primarily a freshwater aquatic species. The aim of following research was to collect Indian bullfrogs from Gujranwala and Sialkot Districts and study their morphological characteristics and analyze the presence of heavy metals in the liver and skin of the sample species. Furthermore, heavy metal analysis of the water samples of the respective study areas was carried out. Amphibian samples were collected from the research sites using methods such as sweep netting and bait. They were transported to Kinnaird College Lahore, they were excised and their skin and liver was preserved in 10% buffered formalin. Water samples were digested with HNO₃ and evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer for heavy metal identification, and the results were compared to standard stock solution values. The metals under consideration included Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese and Zinc. The analyzed values were then matched with standard limits recommended by WHO. The morphological characteristics appeared normal in almost all frog species. Both the study areas are the agricultural areas, untreated water and dumping of solid wastes results in the formation of liquid from solid wastes leaches into the ground due to which sewage mixed with groundwater. Since the frogs were collected from ponds containing groundwater therefore heavy metals were detected in the bodies of the frogs which must have absorbed in their bodies from water. Heavy Metals are naturally present in ground water. The values of heavy metals were within the WHO permissible limits in the skin and liver samples. However, the values of Cadmium exceeded the permissible limit in the water samples. Thus, it was concluded that the quality of both study areas was considerably better. However, with regular monitoring, it can be improved further.