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Photoactivated toxicity of PAH to endangered fishes and standard laboratory test species

Conference ·
OSTI ID:37501
; ;  [1]
  1. National Biological Survey, Columbia, MO (United States). National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been detected in water and sediment from the San Juan River Basin, located in the Four Corners area of the southwestern US. In addition to possessing extensive oil and gas deposits, the San Juan contains several threatened or endangered fish species such as Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers. Proposed expansion of oil and gas development in the basin has sparked concerns that potential increases in PAH loading may jeopardize these and other native fishes. In response, the authors conducted laboratory exposures of threatened and endangered species to various PAH both with and without accompanying exposure to UV light. As predicted from the literature, exposure to UV light caused a marked photo-activated toxicity response in all species; however, the sensitivity to PAH both with and without UV exposure varied among species and lifestages. Supplemental studies were conducted to evaluate the physiological mechanisms for variation in sensitivity between species and lifestage.

OSTI ID:
37501
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English