The anadromous Hilsa, often known as the "Queen of Fishes" (Tenualosa ilisha), is the most valuable fishery in the Ganga-Hooghly delta estuary. Although BPA exposure has been shown to be harmful to aquatic organisms, no research has looked at the effects of BPA on the commercially valuable Hilsa shad of river Ganga. To close this information vacuum, we examined BPA levels in Hilsa fish from the Ganga estuary. Liver, muscle, kidney, and gonads were all positive for BPA among the Hilsa fish of all ages. Liver BPA levels were highest in adult males (272.16 ± 0.38 ng/g-dw), and lowest in juveniles (5.46 ± 0.06 ng/g-dw). BPA concentrations in the Hilsa shad muscle were highest in reproductively mature females (196.23 ± 0.41 ng/g-dw). The study also discovered a correlation between fish development and BPA exposure, with higher levels of BPA being identified in adult Hilsa species. This is the first study to look at the impact of BPA pollution on aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, and it showed that Hilsa shad is contaminated with BPA and poses health hazards to human beings. The results, which demonstrate BPA contamination, are useful for protecting Hilsa in the river Ganga.
Keywords: Bisphenol A contamination; Ganga-Hooghly River estuary; Health hazard; Hilsa shad; Migratory fish.
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