Effect of Selenium and its Compounds on Oxygen Uptake in Freshwater Fish Gambusia affinis after Exposure to Lethal Doses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in oxygen consumption of Gambusia affinis after exposure to selenium and its compounds. Male and female fish used in this study were exposed to known concentration of selenium and its compounds. All the forms of selenium showed concentration and exposure dependent inhibition. At the higher concentration of selenium and selenite male fish showed decrease in consumption, which later recovered, with increase in exposure period. Selenate showed relative decrease in uptake of oxygen. In female fish, selenium at lower concentration showed uniform decrease, at higher concentration after initial decrease recovery in uptake was observed. In selenate at lower concentration there was increase in oxygen uptake and at higher concentration there was decrease in uptake. All forms of selenium showed inhibitory action with decline at lower concentration and fluctuations at higher concentration of metals, with increase in exposure period there was slight recovery in oxygen uptake