skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Effects of environmental and physiological variables on the uptake of hydrophobic contaminants by the gills of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri (Richardson)

Miscellaneous ·
OSTI ID:6693483

This study investigated the effects of changes in contaminant uptake due to sorption to humic acid and changes in fish respiration, induced by altering respiratory demand via an acute change in temperature and by altering the diffusional capacity of the gill membrane by exposure to chlorine. In each experimental design the uptake of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) by the gills of rainbow trout were measured simultaneously with measurements of fish respiratory functions using a fish metabolic chamber. Binding to humic acid (HA) reduced the bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and 2,2{prime},5,5{prime}-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB). A 1:1 correlation was found between reductions in the percentage of BaP or TCB that was freely dissolved and reductions in uptake of the contaminant by trout gills. Eight to 24-h exposure to chlorine resulted in damage to gill lamellae. Reductions in the uptake efficiencies of oxygen and three PCB congeners in chlorine-induced damage to the gill membrane. However, increases in ventilatory functions compensated for the lowered uptake efficiencies and resulted in no net change in either oxygen or PCB uptake.

Research Organization:
Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (USA)
OSTI ID:
6693483
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English