Toxicity and stability of sodium cyanide in fresh water fish Nile tilapia

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 0.129 NaCN mg/l for 28 days on the behavior of tilapia and the activities of adenosine triphosphatases enzyme (Na+/K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+-ATPase) within gill filaments, liver and muscles. Also, to evaluate the stability of cyanide in stored, frozen fish tissues. The present results showed that the exposed fish had shown different modes of behaviors. During the first 14 days, the fish lost its equilibrium with excessive mucous secretion on its gill filaments and skin. On the other hand, tilapia showed a normal swimming behavior with no excessive mucus secretion at 21st and 28th days.In addition, the present result showed that the NaCN decreased the activities of ATPase within the investigated tissues during the exposure periods except for the 1st day. Furthermore, the present result showed that the mean concentration of cyanide gradually decreased within the frozen tissues and completely disappeared after 48 h within frozen liver and muscle. But, it disappeared after 72 h within frozen blood and gills.