Use of ecotoxicological and avoidance data to assess effects of hazardous materials on fish. [Minnow and trout]

Conference · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5971802

Gray, R H; Dauble, D D; Skaliski, J R

Assessing potential environmental effects from accidential release of hazardous materials to aquatic habitats is often based on laboratory-derived tolerance data and assumptions of organism exposure. This approach usually represents worst-case conditions and does not consider the adaptive behavior of mobil organisms such as fish, which may modify actual exposures. We conducted behavioral response studies as part of a larger effort to assess the fate and effects of organically complex, coal-derived liquids in the aquatic environment. A nine-chambered circular apparatus (rosette) was used to test the ability of groups of adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) to detect and avoid various concentrations of the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of a coal liquid. Fathead minnow avoided constituent concentrations of the WSF that were acutely toxic, but did not avoid concentrations known experimentally to affect growth and reproduction. In contrast, rainbow trout did not avoid the toxicant at any concentration, despite mortalities of up to 50% of some test groups. A conceptual model is presented that links avoidance and toxicological data, and allows a more realistic environmental assessment than can presently be obtained with toxicity data alone. 25 references, 5 figures.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5971802
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-11507; CONF-8311235-1; ON: DE85007154
• Resource Relation: Conference: 10. annual aquatic toxicity workshop, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 7 Nov 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL LIQUIDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FISHES
BEHAVIOR
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
SRC-II PROCESS
TOXICITY
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
DATA
FLUIDS
INFORMATION
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
016000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety