Toxicity, silver accumulation and metallothionein induction in freshwater rainbow trout during exposure to different silver salts

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620150713· OSTI ID:268014

Hogstrand, C ^[1]; Galvez, F; Wood, C M ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States). T.H. Morgan School of Biological Sciences
2. McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Biology

Static-renewal 168-h toxicity tests of silver nitrate (AgNO{sub 3}), silver chloride (AgCl{sub n}), and silver thiosulfate (Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub n}) with juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) were performed by standard methods. Because of low solubility of AgCl(s), bioassays for AgCl{sub n} were performed in two separate ways. In one test series, AgCl(s) was added to freshwater and in another, AgCl{sub n}(aq) was generated by adding AgNO{sub 3} to freshwater supplemented with 50 mM NaCl. Concentrations of Ag and metallothionein (MT) were analyzed in gills and livers of fish that survived the exposures. Although Ag added as AgNO{sub 3} was found to be highly toxic to rainbow trout (168-h LC50 = 9.1 {micro}g Ag L{sup {minus}1}), the toxicities of the other Ag salts were low. The 168-h LC50 for Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub n} was 137,000 {micro}g Ag L{sup {minus}1} and no mortality was observed in AgCl{sub n} (100,000 {micro}g Ag L{sup {minus}1}). Exposure to AgNO{sub 3}, Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub n}, or AgCl{sub n} caused accumulation of Ag and induction of MT. Highest Ag levels were found in livers of trout exposed to 164,000 {micro}g Ag L{sup {minus}1} as Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub n}. In these fish, the hepatic Ag concentration was increased 335 times from the control value. The MT levels in gills and liver increased with the water Ag concentration and the highest level of MT was found in liver of fish exposed to Ag(S{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub n}.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 268014
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 15; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BIOSYNTHESIS
FRESH WATER
METALLOTHIONEIN
SILVER
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
TROUT
WATER POLLUTION