Lethal body concentrations of four non-polar narcotic chemicals in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:212004

Groetsch, K; Oris, J T ^[1]; Versteeg, D J ^[2]

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1. Miami Univ., Oxford, OH (United States). Dept. of Zoology
2. Procter and Gamble Co., Cincinnati, OH (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science

The objective of this study was to evaluate the lethal body concentrations of tetra chloroethane, dichlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, and hexachlorobenzene in the larval fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The authors exposed similar populations of larval fathead minnows to a range of concentrations of one of four non-polar, narcotic chemicals. Morbid larvae were collected and the time of collection and internal body concentration were recorded. Example results for pentachlorobenzene show that the concentration of chemical in larvae that die in short time intervals were significantly lower than the concentration of chemical in larvae that died later in the test (ANOVA F-Value = 139, P-Value <.0001). Morbidity occurred between 16 and 210 hours of exposure. After 210 hours, exposed individuals had similar rates of morbidity compared to controls. This study corroborates other research that suggests the existence of a threshold body concentration that causes lethality for non-polar narcotic chemicals. However, individual based tolerance appears to contribute significantly to variability in lethal body concentrations.

• OSTI ID: 212004
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BODY BURDEN
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FATHEAD MINNOW
LARVAE
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION