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Detecting population-level genotoxic effects of benzo(a)pyrene on the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Conference ·
OSTI ID:442903
;  [1]
  1. McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Dept. of Biology
Investigations of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) toxicity have been primarily concerned with effects mediated by somatic cell DNA damage, particularly those linked to carcinogenesis. However, somatic cell effects may be of little ecological consequence, particularly when resulting pathologies become clinically visible long after sexual maturity. Germ cell effects may be more consequential, with alterations of the germ cell mutation rate effecting the dynamics of entire populations. The goal was to demonstrate that a potent DNA damaging agent can induce detectable population level effects. To accomplish this task the authors investigated changes in the survivorship of fathead minnow larvae two generations removed from in vitro BaP exposure. The experiment was initiated by exposing laboratory-raised individuals to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 ppb BaP or a solvent blank for a period of 3 months. Exposed pairs were isolated and mated as soon as secondary sexual characteristics became visible. Progeny of exposed, mated pairs were subsequently isolated in order to provide families with a known exposure history. Siblings from isolated families were then mated to examine the effect of BaP exposure on the survival of larvae two generations removed from the exposure. As expected, inbreeding depression decreased hatching success and larval survival in both control and experimental broods. However, while larval survival from control broods was usually greater than 50%, two-thirds of the 1 ppb BaP broods showed no survival at all. Overall, the results revealed a significant effect of BaP treatment on both hatching success and larval survival. The results also revealed evidence of a concentration-response relationship.
OSTI ID:
442903
Report Number(s):
CONF-961149--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English