The Effects of Detergent

to the Operculum Movement

of a Fish

IntroductionOne of the environmental issues in the society is

the water pollution that leads to a big impact of

mortality rate to aquatic resources. In household

chores, detergent is always been the peoples

partner in cleaning because detergent contains

different concentrated chemicals that helps

human to make their work easier like in laundry,

the chemicals that is present in detergents

makes the clothes easier to wash.

But after washing, people dispose their

waste in an improper way like for example

throwing it in canals and other aquatic

resources. The people are not aware of the

things that might or will happen to the

aquatic resources. This study aims to know

the effect of detergent to the operculum

movement of fish.

Objective of the Study

What happens to the

operculum movement of the

fish in detergent?

Hypothesis:

Ho: There is no significant effect between

the movement of fish operculum in tap

water and in water with detergent.

Ha: There is a significant effect between the

movement of fish operculum in tap water

and in water with detergent.

Materials

3 goldfishes

Detergent

Tap Water

Graduated cylinder

Weighing scales

Stirring rod

Liter set

Thermometer

Methods

The amount of water was measured.

The temperature of the water in the two

liter set was measured.

The weight of the fish was measured.

The amount of detergent was measured

Samples

Substance Mass of

fishes

Amount of

water

Mass of detergent

Temperature

A Pure water

2 g 700 ml - 28ºC

B Water with

detergent

2 g 700 ml 2 g 28ºC

Table 1: Amount of material contain by the two Samples

The detergent was poured in one liter set.

While we left the other liter set with pure

substance.

Then the ssoperculum movement of the

fish was observed within five minutes.

Result and Discussion

Base in our observations, the presence

of the deoxygenated carbon present in

detergent affects the behavior of the

operculum movement of the fish.

In the experiment, the two set-ups

have the same species of goldfish,

temperature and volume of water but they

have different substance present on it.

Since Set-up A contains pure water,

thus there is no changes occurred.

While set-up B contains 2 grams of

detergent, there is a change happen to

the operculum movement of the fish. The

fish operculum movement works faster

than its normal work. In the first minute of

putting the detergent in the water, the

fish seems agitated to its surroundings.

Documentation

Set A Set B

Observations

Sample A Sample B

• The fish operculum has a

normal movement

•The movement of fish is

normal

• The movement of operculum is

faster than its normal movement.

•The fish swims at the upper part

container

•The movement of fish is steady

and it is nearly not moving

• The fish release a sticky mucus

on its mouth.

Table 2: Observations within 5 minutes

After the five-minute observation, the

fish is still alive but it’s body is wrap by a

sticky mucus and afterwards the

operculum stops and the fish died.

Fish rely on special organs called gills where that operculum is near on it. When the detergent is added in the container, thus the substance of water changes.

The deoxygenated carbon that is present in the detergent poisons the gold fish. It destroys the fish’s gills that causes its death.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is concluded that the operculum

movement of fish works faster than its normal

movement when there is a presence of chemical

substance (deoxygenated carbon) in the water.

Thus, it indicates that there is a lack of oxygen

on that water due to the substance present on it

that may lead to the suffocation of the fish.

References

http://www.lenntech.com/aquatic/detergents.html

-Copyright © 1998-2012 Lenntech B.V

http://www.myuniversalfacts.com/2006/03/how-do-

fish-breathe.html

- Posted By: R. Edmondson

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-

8649.1974.tb04545.x/abstract

-Posted By: P. D. Abel

Authors

Chzurish Ibarra

Davie Myrrh Acuña

Deanne May Edera

Mark Leonhel Escuyos