Validating bioindicators of PAH effects in fish: Evaluating responsiveness to creosote exposure in aquatic mesocosms

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:31767

Munro, K A; Solomon, K R; Gensemer, R W; Van Der Kraak, G J ^[1]; Day, K E; Servos, M R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Guelph, Ontario (Canada)
2. Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario (Canada)

While studies involving controlled exposures to PAHs have typically studied the effects of exposure to individual compounds, PAHs are usually present in the environment in complex mixtures. Some of these (eg. creosote) have been widely used and present potential risks to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of the current research is to evaluate whether population effects visible in fish at high creosote concentrations would be reflected in biomarker responses at lower concentrations. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were exposed to five levels of creosote contamination in microcosms containing a simple community structure (including macroinvertebrates and macrophytes). Preliminary results have shown that changes in P450 induction, bile fluorescence, and levels of reproductive hormones are visible at lower concentrations than population effects such as increased mortality, reduced secondary sexual characteristics, and reduced fecundity.

• OSTI ID: 31767
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CREOSOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENZYME INDUCTION
FISHES
MICROCOSMS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION