Cough response and uptake of mercury by Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, exposed to mercuric compounds at different hydrogen-ion concentrations
The lowest concentration of methylmercuric chloride (MMC) and mercuric chloride added to Lake Superior water that caused a significant increase in cough frequency in Brook trout was 3 micrograms Hg/liter. Cough frequency is a good short-term indicator of the long-term effects of MMC. The response can be used to predict the safe concentration of mercuric chloride since the long-term effects of the compound are not known. Increases in cough frequency were proportional to the concentration (from 3 to 12 micrograms Hg/liter) of both compounds at pH 7.5. The fish were more responsive to MMC when the pH of the test water was lowered to 6.0; response to mercuric chloride was not changed by lowered pH. Fish exposed to MMC at pH 6.0 contained more total mercury in their gills and red blood cells than fish tested at pH 9.0. The uptake of mercury by brook trout exposed to mercuric chloride did not differ significantly at pH 6.0 and 9.0.
- OSTI ID:
- 5602427
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 103
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Toxic effects of cadmium on three generations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Histochemical demonstration of mercury in the olfactory system of salmon (Salmo salar L. ) following treatments with dietary methylmercuric chloride and dissolved mercuric chloride
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MERCURY CHLORIDES
TOXICITY
TROUT
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
ACIDIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BLOOD CELLS
GILLS
LAKE SUPERIOR
METHYLMERCURY
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PH VALUE
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
FISHES
GREAT LAKES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LAKES
MATERIALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)