Vol. 8, Special Issue 4, Part E (2024)

Abstract: Silver nitrate is used extensively in industry that can affect the health of terrestrial and aquatic animals due to contamination of environment. In the main study, adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio) of three toxicity groups were exposed to AgNO₃ concentrations of 8.75, 17.5, 35 µg/L, respectively for 28 days based on the pilot study observations, along with the control group. Zebrafish used as a model in this study to evaluate social impairing, anxiety like behaviour and swimming performance. Toxicity evaluation was done by behaviour evaluation tests like novel tank test, light-dark preference test, Social Preference test and Social Recognition test. Anxiety-like behavior, decreased locomotor activity, and altered social behaviour observed in adult female zebrafish of T₂ & T₃ groups. This study concludes that exposure for 28 days at sublethal dose might produce significant behaviour alteration which elucidate the neurotoxic potential of AgNO₃.