Use of ecotoxicological and avoidance data to assess effects of hazardous materials on fish. [Minnow and trout]

Conference · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5971802

Gray, R H; Dauble, D D; Skaliski, J R

Assessing potential environmental effects from accidential release of hazardous materials to aquatic habitats is often based on laboratory-derived tolerance data and assumptions of organism exposure. This approach usually represents worst-case conditions and does not consider the adaptive behavior of mobil organisms such as fish, which may modify actual exposures. We conducted behavioral response studies as part of a larger effort to assess the fate and effects of organically complex, coal-derived liquids in the aquatic environment. A nine-chambered circular apparatus (rosette) was used to test the ability of groups of adult fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) to detect and avoid various concentrations of the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of a coal liquid. Fathead minnow avoided constituent concentrations of the WSF that were acutely toxic, but did not avoid concentrations known experimentally to affect growth and reproduction. In contrast, rainbow trout did not avoid the toxicant at any concentration, despite mortalities of up to 50% of some test groups. A conceptual model is presented that links avoidance and toxicological data, and allows a more realistic environmental assessment than can presently be obtained with toxicity data alone. 25 references, 5 figures.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5971802
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-11507; CONF-8311235-1; ON: DE85007154
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUIDS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FISHES
FLUIDS
INFORMATION
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
SRC-II PROCESS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES