Dielectric studies on the reaction of the intracellular matter of fish red blood cells to detergent toxicity.

Results from dielectric studies on the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio exposed to a sublethal concentration of sodium alkyl benzene sulphonate were compared with those from untreated control fish; recovery from the test solution was also checked. The influence of the anionic detergent on the intracellular matter of fish red blood cells was investigated by measurement of electrical conductivity and permittivity using a method that did not harm the cell membrane. The results were compared with a calculation using Wagner's and Hanai 's equation. It has been found that electrical conductivity and permittivity increase with time of exposure to detergent and the results indicate an almost linear relationship. The dielectric data, however, reveal anomalous behaviour for both conductivity and permittivity on the 16th and 30th, and 12th and 30th days, respectively. This may be associated with a structural change in the red blood cells.