Investigation on the cause of a fish-kill (Epinephelus) in the Kisamos Gulf, Crete
Alteration in the chemical composition of the natural marine environment usually affects a change in the behaviour and health of fish. This alteration may be caused by the presence of chemical wastes in the aquatic environment, such as heavy metals, pesticides, crude oil, phenolic and chlorine derivatives, arsenicals, etc. The degree of toxicity produced by these poisonous substances is dependent upon environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH value, oxygen content and presence of certain other substances. Spontaneous lesions in fish, displaying degeneration of the anterior lateral line and alteration in the olfactory sensory structure, have occured in many marine areas, for example, Gaspee Point in Narragansett Bay and Millston Point in Connecticut, as well as in the coastal waters of New Jersey and New York. These disorders were observed in adult menhaden and resemble those resulting from toxicity in the aquatic environment. It has been demonstrated, moreover, that the sensory organs of some teleosts are sensitive to heavy metals such as copper, mercury and silver. This sensory disability and difficulty in orientation may cause to be more susceptible to enemies and predation, diseases or other hazards, due to an inability to relate to a viable environment. This study deals with events which occurred in the Kisamos Gulf, Crete, where more than 6000 kg of fish sickened and died within a three month period.
- Research Organization:
- Aristotelian Univ., Thessaloniki, Greece
- OSTI ID:
- 6537356
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 26:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
WATER POLLUTION
FISHES
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FOOD
GREECE
METALS
OIL SPILLS
PESTICIDES
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
PHENOLS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SAMPLING
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EASTERN EUROPE
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)