Temperature and toxicity of DDT to sea mullet (Mugil cephalus L.)

Sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) were exposed to aqueous suspensions of tech-DDT in seawater, salinity $\text{29.5±0.5‰}$. The 48 h LC₅₀ calculated from these static bioassays ranged from 0.042 to 0.056 mg l.^?1 DDT. Median survival times were then estimated at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C using the upper level of the 48 h LC₅₀ range of concentrations, i.e. 0.056 mg l.^?1. Results indicated that an increase in temperature produced a decrease in toxicity. However, 25°C was the only temperature at which the increase in survival time was statistically significant. Size differences within experimental fish did not contribute to MST.     

Chemical composition and acute toxicity in the water after in situ burning--a laboratory experiment

The chemical composition and toxicity of a water soluble fraction (WSF) of oil versus the underlying water after in situ burning (ISB), has been studied in a laboratory experiment. A system for allowing water sampling after ISB was developed. Seawater samples and oil were collected prior to and immediately after ISB, and chemical analysis was conducted. The chemical characterization of the water showed that the disappearance of water soluble oil components during ISB was insignificant. Acute toxicity tests with the marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus and Microtox® bioassay was performed to establish LC₅₀/EC₅₀ values of the water. The results were compared with regular WAF systems with unburned weathered oil, and indicated no increase in toxicity in the underlying water after ISB.     

Acute toxicity of copper to sea catfish

Sea catfish (Arius felis) were exposed to aqueous solutions of reagent grade cupric chloride in artificial seawater ($\text{30.0±2.0‰}$, 21–23°C) in four static bioassays. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ were calculated and found to be 5.43, 4.17, 3.57 and 2.40 mg l.^?1 copper, respectively. Experimental concentrations of copper producing subtle behavioral changes in this species correspond to less than 0.3% of the 72 h LC₅₀. Based on this comparison with literature values, a new, maximum ‘safe’ concentration for copper in marine waters of 0.01 mg l.^?1 is proposed.     

Toxicity of Interactions of Zinc —Nickel,Copper —Nickel and Zinc —Nickel —Copper to a Freshwater Teleost,Lebistes reticulatus (PETERS)1

The lethal toxicity of mixtures of Zn²⁺ —Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ —Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ —Cu²⁺ —Ni²⁺ to common guppy at 21£C in hard water (total hardness = 260 mg/l as CaCO₃) was studied under static bioassays test conditions with renewal of the test solutions every 24 h. The heavy metals were tested separately and in mixtures. The 48 h median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) for individual salts were 75 mg/l Zn²⁺, 37 mg/l for Ni²⁺ and 2.5 mg/l for Cu²⁺. Concentrations were expressed in “toxic units” by taking them as proportions of LC₅₀ values. Experiments showed that in the Zn²⁺-Ni²⁺ mixture, when Ni²⁺ was more in proportion, the toxicity was more than additive. The 48 h LC₅₀ value and 95% confidence limits in the Ni²⁺-Cu²⁺ mixture were 0.684 (0.484 … 0.807) toxic units and the mixture produced more than the additive toxicity (synergism.). The LC₅₀ value and its 95% confidence limits in a Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺?Ni²⁺ mixture also suggested that the mixture was again strictly additive. The results indicate that heavy metallic mixtures would pose a greater toxicological danger to fish than the respective individual metals.     

Acute toxicity of platinum to coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

The effects of short-term exposure to tetravalent platinum on survival, opercular movement and post-treatment growth of coho salmon fry (Oncorhynchus kisutch) was investigated. Employing a static water acute toxicity bioassay with platinum as PtCl₄2HCl·6 H₂O, at 8.5±0.2°C, and a water hardness of 55.9±3.5 mg l.^?1 (as CaCo₃), the 24, 48, and 96-h LC₅₀ values were 15.5, 5.2, and 2.5 mg Pt⁴⁺ l.^?1 respectively.Rates of opercular movement for fish exposed to platinum increased with increasing concentrations to a level of 1.0 mg l.^?1. No further significant increases were evident above this level. Hypoactivity of fish exposed to 0.3 mg l.^?1 and higher was evident during the acute toxicity bioassay and much of the post-treatment study. Post-treatment rate of growth for fish exposed to sublethal concentration of platinum for 96 h was less than that of the controls.All organs examined histopathologically were within normal ranges with the exception of the gills and olfactory organ. Lesions in fish exposed to concentration of 0.3 mg l.^?1 and higher were characterized by branchial epithelial hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and necrosis of olfactory epithelial cells.     

Effects of sublethal concentrations of copper and freshwater on behaviour in an estuarine gastropod Polinices sordidus

This study investigated the effects of contamination by copper and freshwater on the behaviour of the estuarine gastropod Polinices sordidus. The burying response was inhibited by both pollutants. In the case of copper, it was suggested that this response after 30 min could reflect toxicity after 96 h, i.e. the 96 h LC₅₀ and the 30 min ED₅₀ were very similar. P. sordidus responded to freshwater at concentrations well below the 96 h LC₅₀, suggesting that this species can detect sublethal concentrations of freshwater. Thus, for salinity, the 30 min ED₅₀ is not a reliable indicator of the 96 h LC₅₀. A linear decline in crawling activity was found in the presence of increasing concentrations of both pollutants. These results for both aspects of behaviour are discussed in the light of results reported earlier for a marine species Polinices incei.     

Comparative study of 17 β-estradiol on endocrine disruption and biotransformation in fingerlings and juveniles of Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus

Estrogenic contaminants in the aquatic environment are associated with endocrine disruption and feminization in fish. The effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on fish have been well documented. However, very few studies have focused on 17 β-estradiol (E2) and its effects on endocrine system and biotransformation in a single prolonged exposure. This study investigated changes in the levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and acetyl choline esterase (AchE) in brain, cortisol in plasma and Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in gill of two different size groups (fingerlings and juveniles) of Japanese sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) upon exposure to two sub-lethal concentrations (200 and 2000 ng L⁻¹) of E2 for 30 d. The results indicate that cortisol level and EROD activity significantly increased in both groups, whereas serotonin level increased in juveniles and decreased in fingerlings due to E2 exposure. The correlation analysis revealed that E2 significantly affected the endocrine and biotransformation systems in both age groups.     

Acute toxicity of bis(tributyltin) oxide to a marine copepod

A static renewal toxicity test was conducted to evaluate the response of the copepod Acartia tonsa to bis(tributyltin) oxide (TBTO), the active compound of recently developed antifouling paints. Copepods were individually placed in test tubes containing 4 ml of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.7 or 3.0 μg l^?1 TBTO with acetone and seawater. Thirty copepods were used for each treatment and control condition and all solutions were renewed daily. The 96-h LC₅₀ was 1.0 μg l^?1 with a 95% confidence interval between 0.8 and 1.2 μg l^?1 TBTO. The 144-h EC₅₀ was 0.4 μg l^?1 TBTO which approaches concentrations recently measured in San Diego Bay. Some copepods exposed to 0.3 μg l^?1 TBTO became moribund after six days.     

Toxicity of sediment-incorporated drilling fluids

The 24, 96, or 168h LC₅₀s of four used drilling fluids or barite incorporated into sediment were determined in toxicity tests with lancelets (Branchiostoma caribaeum), a benthic chordate. Concurrent to LC₅₀ determinations, EC₅₀s were calculated from the number of lancelets that did not burrow into contaminated sediments. Observations of the burrowing behaviour allowed quantitation of effects after 24h exposures to each of the drilling fluids whereas lancelet mortality was sufficient to calculate 24h LC₅₀s for only one drilling fluid. Drilling fluids were less toxic to lancelets when incorporated into sediments than to mysids (Mysidopsis bahia) or benthic invertebrate communities in water-column exposures.     

Toxicological effects of biocide Slimicide C-30 on some marine invertebrates

Sublethal and lethal effects of biocide Slimicide C-30 on the developmental stages of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis and juvenile and adult mysid Leptomysis mediterranea were studied.Biocide at a concentration as low as 0.02 mg l^?1 caused an incipient effect in the embryonic development of mussels where a decreased number of normally developed larvae from eggs was evident. Slimicide C-30 effective concentration (EC 50/96) was 0.07 mg l^?1.In the mysids, the median lethal concentration (96 h LC₅₀) was 0.11 mg l^?1.Previous incubation of Slimicide C-30 at 38°C affected a small delay in mortality time (LT₅₀) but did not cause marked change in the acute toxicity to mysids.     

Effect of Zinc,Copper and Mercury on Channa marulius (HAMILTON)

Static bioassay acute toxicity tests of Zinc, Copper and Mercury were conducted to determine the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) of a freshwater teleost Channa marulius (HAM .) The 96 h LC₅₀ and 95% confidence limits for Zn²⁺ were 25.61 (24.13 … 27.12) mg/l; 0.90 (0.80 … 1.038) mg/l; for Cu²⁺ and 0.314 (0.257 … 0.371) mg/l for Hg²⁺. However, these values decreased at 240 h of exposure and were: 21.09 (18.29 … 24.60) mg Zn²⁺/l; 0.66 (0.568 … 0.841) mg Cu²⁺/l; and 0.131 (0.103 … 0.158) mg Hg²⁺/l. The relative potency ratio of Zn/Hg, Zn/Cu and Cu/Hg suggests that fish were most sensitive to Hg, followed by Cu and Zn ions. The acute toxicities of mixtures of Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺; Zn²⁺?Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺?Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺?Hg²⁺ up to 48 h of exposure were also investigated. The additive index and ranges for Zn²⁺?Cu²⁺ were ?0.241 (-0.577 … 0.054); 0.056 (-0.269 … 0.475) for Zn-Hg; 0.285 (-0.043 … 0.718) for Cu-Hg; and -0.542 (-1.215 … 0.005) for Zn-Cu-Hg. All the mixtures tested showed a greater than additive toxicity because index ranges overlapped zero.     

“Man and the Biosphere”-Studies on Sikkim Himalayas. Part 1: Acute Toxicity of Copper and Zinc to Common Carp Cyprinus carpio (Linn.) in Soft Water

In the daily exchange of the medium with only 7.1 mg/l Ca²⁺ and 0.7 mg/l Mg²⁺ during the batch experiment the LC_50,96h for Cyprinus carpio is 0.063 mg/l Cu²⁺ and 3.12 mg/l Zn²⁺ at water temperatures of 11 to 14°C. Significant differences in mortality as referred to the LC_50,12h occur for copper only after 72 h of exposure and for zinc after 48 h of exposure. The values of LC_50,96h are clearly lower for both metals in the investigations described than most data given in literature for different fish species.     

Short Term Effects of Aldrin and Swascofix CD-38 on the Feeding and Respiratory Behaviours of Clarias batrachus and Cirrhina mrigala

Fish were kept in non-toxic water or at 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 of the LC_50,96h of the ten-side or insecticide for 24 h and fed with toxified and non-toxified feed. Toxified feed in normal water resulted in a maximum feed intake, while normal feed in toxified water resulted in a minimum one. In each case, the feed intake was lower compared with the control, and the feed intake was inversely proportional to the toxicant concentration. In a simple respirometer the oxygen consumption in mg · kg^?1 · h^?1 was tested for 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 h of exposure to 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5 of the LC_50,96h of both substances. It was a flow device which was closed only for measurement for one hour. 1.5 LC₅₀ Aldrin causes a continuous reduction of respiration until death. The same effect occurred with Cl. batrachus for 1.5 LC₅₀ of the tenside, whereas with C. mrigala death was caused by a pronounced increase of respiration. In all other cases, after a phase of sensitization for 4 … 8 h respiration increased considerably to more than 300% of the control, which was followed after 12 … 24 h by acclimatization to normal respiration values.     

Acute toxicity of mine tailings to four marine species

Acute toxicity bioassays were conducted on mine tailings produced by pilot plant testing for the proposed Quartz Hill molybdenum mine, which will be situated near Ketchikan, Alaska. Tailings bioassays were conducted in seawater with juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), mussel larvae (Mytilus edulis), infaunal amphipods (Rhepoxynius abronius), and euphausiids (Euphausia pacifica). The same general range of mine tailings concentrations was acutely toxic to all four test species with acute effects observed between 61 000 to 277 000 mg l^?1 (wet wt) tailings solids (range of 95% confidence limits for LC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values). Chemical analyses of bioassay test solutions and leaching test solutions were conducted for metals (including Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn and Mo), EPA Priority Pollutant base/neutral organics, and more general parameters such as sulphate, nitrate/nitrite, cyanides, phosphate and ammonia. Parameters possibly contributing to the observed toxicity were complex contaminant mixtures including total suspended solids and heavy metals. The present study provides information related to the marine disposal of mine tailings and shows that these mine tailings present a relatively low level of acutely toxic effects.     

Studies on the Acute Toxicity of Zinc to a Freshwater Teleost: Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Static bioassay tests were carried out on Channa punctatus Bloch in the laboratory after renewal of concentrations every 24 h. The LC₅₀ values and 95 per cent confidence limits were 45.21 (39.62 … 51.11) ppm at 12 h and 29.8 (27.49 … 31.95) ppm of Zn at 96 h of exposure. The actual dissolution values of zinc were also determined in test solutions using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Behavioural changes were the higher rate of opercular movements, surfacing, loss of equilibrium and haemorrhage near mouth and caudal fin. The LT₅₀ values indicate that survival was increased with decreasing Zn concentration. The histopathological changes observed due to Zn toxicity in the gills have been discussed in relation to fish mortality.     

Toxicity of Phenol,Pentachlorophenol and Sodium Pentachlorophenolate to a Freshwater Teleost Lebistes reticulatus (Peters)

Lebistes reticulatus (Peters) was exposed to various concentrations of phenol, pentachlorophenol and sodium pentachlorophenolate to determine their toxicity, lethal concentrations and slope functions by a static bioassay procedure. Simultaneous controls were also run. The 94h LC₅₀ values were 47.5mg/l (42.04 … 53.68) for phenol, 0.77 mg/l (0.616 … 0.963) for sodium pentachlorophenate and 0.97 mg/l (0.866 … 1.086) for pentachlorophenol. On this basis, the rank order is sodium pentachlorophenolate-pentachlorophenol-phenol. During the treatment, fish showed an abnormal swimming reflex, excessive mucus secretion, haemorrhage near lips, abdomen and basis of fins and loss of equilibrium followed by death.     

Hexavalent chromium: Toxicity and impact on carbohydrate metabolism and haematological parameters of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) from Saudi Arabia

The effect of hexavalent chromium on the carp,Cyprinus carpio was assessed using static bioassay. The 96h LC₅₀ was found to be 93.6mg · l^–1. In carp exposed to sublethal concentrations of chromium (15 and 25 mg · l^–1), significant depletion of liver and muscle glycogen and decreasing leucocyte counts were recorded during prolonged exposure and with increasing concentration of chromium. The other blood parameters examined (haemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, serum protein, serum glucose) increased similarly during exposure to two chromium concentrations.     

Hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase Activity in eel (Anguilla Anguilla) from The Thames Estuary and Comparisons with other United Kingdom Estuaries

Hepatic microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities (indicative of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs)) were measured in eel Anguilla anguilla from the Thames Estuary. Fish were collected from up to 13 sites during November 1997, May and August 1998 and October 1999. Throughout this period no clear seasonal variation could be identified at every site along the Thames. However, during the summer months, fish sampled from sites in the middle to the upper estuary (Woolwich, Greenhithe and West Thurrock) reported up to 3-fold higher EROD activities compared to sites either at the upper reaches (Richmond and Brentford) at the same time of the year, or fish sampled in winter, along the entire length of the estuary. A laboratory exposure experiment demonstrated a 3-fold elevation of EROD activity 2 days after injection with β-naphthoflavone (β-NF). However, higher levels of activity could be determined in fish sampled from the Weston canal near the Merseyside. The lowest levels of A. anguilla EROD activity were observed in fish sampled from the upper reaches of the River Tamar, Devon, and were comparable to activities determined in fish from the Wear and Humber estuaries. A. anguilla sampled along the Thames, Tyne and Tees estuaries reported between 2.5- and 7-fold higher EROD activities compared to fish collected from the Tamar. These results indicate that a low to moderate induction of A. anguilla CYP1A had occurred (indicative of low to moderate exposure to PAHs and planar PCBs) in fish collected from the Thames, Tyne, Wear, Tees, Humber and Tamar estuaries. However, the highest level of EROD activity was observed in fish from the Weston Canal (Merseyside).     

Effect of salinity on acute copper and zinc toxicity to Tigriopus japonicus: The difference between metal ions and nanoparticles

We investigated the effects of salinity (5‰, 15‰, 25‰ and 35‰) on metal ion (Cu and Zn) and nanoparticle (NP) CuO and ZnO toxicity to Tigriopus japonicus. Increasing the test media volume without renewal increased the 96-h LC₅₀ for Cu (32.75 mg L⁻¹) compared to the reported value (3.9 mg L⁻¹). There was no significant difference in acute toxicity at different salinities between acclimated and unacclimated T. japonicus (p > 0.05). Increasing salinity decreased the dissolved concentrations of Cu and Zn ions due to the precipitation of the metal ions, consequently reducing the acute toxicity to T. japonicus. The effect of salinity on acute CuO and ZnO NP toxicity was similar to that on metal ion toxicity. Since the aggregation of NPs generally enhanced at higher salinities, both the dissolution and aggregation of CuO and ZnO NPs may control the effect of salinity on acute toxicity to T. japonicus.     

“Man and Biosphere” — Studies on Sikkim Himalayas. Part 2: Acute Toxity of Mixed Copper-Zinc Solutions on Common Carp,Cyprinus carpio (LINN.)

In batch experiments for 6 to 48 h, individuals of Cyprinus carpio (2 g individual weight) were exposed to mixed solutions of copper and zinc sulphate: pH = 6.3, temperature 15 °C, 6.8 mg/l O₂, 7.1 mg/l Ca²⁺, 0.7 mg/l Mg²⁺. The LC₅₀ for the individual substances on exposures of 24 and 48 h amount to 9.04 and 7.28 mg/l, resp., of Zn and 0.11 and 0.095 mg/l, resp., of Cu. The sum of the biological activity of the two kinds of metal ions is assessed according to MARKING'S index: at low concentrations of the mixed solutions the two metals show an additive effect, at higher concentrations a synergistic effect occurs.