THE EFFECT OF NON ALCOHOLIC WASTEWATER EFFLUENT FROM A BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the genotoxic effects of varying concentrations of non alcoholic beverage industry effluent on the elongation factor 1-alpha gene expression of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Tissue samples were extracted from the juvenile Clarias gariepinus gills. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) isolation and quantification, synthesis of complementary Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and gel electrophoresis were carried out following standard guidelines. The results obtained from the study showed the varying expression levels of the Elongation Factor 1 alpha (EF1-α ) gene at concentration levels of 0.5%, 1.5%, 3.5%, and 5.0%. The statistically significant correlation of the expression levels of the gene at various concentrations with the equivalent control revealed that the increase in the expression of the gene in response to the non alcoholic effluent exposure was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The increase in the expression of the gene suggests that Clarias gariepinus is negatively affected by the non alcoholic beverage industry effluent. Therefore, standard treatment of effluent from beverage manufacturing industries is recommended before disposal in the aquatic environment to avoid deleterious effect on aquatic organisms.