EFFECTS OF COPPER ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS - A REVIEW

Abstract

The impact of metal pollution has become alarming with increasing industrialization. Copper is the most extensively used metal among other heavy metals. Copper and its alloys are being used in almost every industrial activity and also in our daily life. Copper as a micro-nutrient is essential for all living organisms at lower concentration for their optimal growth and development. But, copper in excess of the required amount becomes toxic, and the impact is more severe to the aquatic environment. In comparison to freshwater fishes and invertebrate, aquatic plants are equally or less sensitive to copper. Surface water systems should be managed and protected from pollution for the protection of fishes, invertebrates and to ensure aquatic plant survivability. Metal uptake rates will vary according to the organisms and the metal forms in the aquatic systems. The mechaniims of copper toxicity and storage are diverse as they vary with organisms and mode of ptake' Slightly elevated copper level in natural waters may cause sublethal effects in aquatic organisms such as histologicat or morphological changes in tissues, suppression of growth and development, poor swimming performance, changi in bio-chemistry, change in behavior and change in reproduction. This paper mainly iona"nt.ut", on recent development in the study of toxic Metal (copper) species in the aquatic environment and its availability o the aquatic organisms and plants. Keywords: Copper; Heavy metals; Pollution; Accumulation; Aquatic ecosystem