title: Antennal deformities of chironomid larvae and their use in biomonitoring of heavy metal pollutants in the river Damodar of West Bengal, India.
abstract: Analyses of sediment and water indicate the presence of heavy metal pollutants like lead, zinc, copper, mercury and cadmium of the river Damodar of India. These metals are responsible for causing morphological deformities of antennae and other parts of chironomid larvae. Percentage of deformity correlated positively with the concentrations of Pb in water and sediment (r > 0.6) at the confluence point. A new severity index, SISS((antenna)) has been proposed here to assess deformity at the family or subfamily level.
authors.affiliation: Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan 713 104, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyay
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sadhu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007194:India; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D045483:Rivers; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical