Effects of benzene (a toxic component of petroleum) on spawning Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Fish. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6260612

Struhsaker, J W

When female Pacific herring were exposed to low (parts per billion) levels of benzene for 48 h just prior to their spawning, a significant reduction occurred in survival of ovarian eggs and resultant embryos and larvae through yolk absorption. The reduction in survival of ovarian eggs was approximately 10 to 25%, for embryos from fertilization to hatching, 26%, and for embryos and larvae through yolk absorption, 43%. Exposure to benzene also induced premature spawning and resulted in aberrant swimming behavior and disequilibrium in adults of both sexes. The maximum accumulation of /sup 14/C-labeled benzene and/or metabolites in ovarian eggs (14 times initial concentration in water in 24 to 48 h; 1.4 microliters per gram from 0.1 microliters per liter) was greater than in later egg and larval stages as measured in other experiments. Conservatively estimating the total reduction in survival in these experiments to be approximately 50% through yolk absorption, it is surmized that the effect of exposing spawning herring to only one toxic component of petroleum could have a significant effect on the population. The fish in these experiments were exposed to relatively high parts per billion levels, but they were exposed for a relatively short period (48 h); it is possible that in the estuary, if chronically exposed over a longer period of time to low parts per billion levels of aromatic compounds, the populations could be seriously affected. When the spawning female herring is compared with other life history stages, we find that the spawning stage is clearly the most sensitive of those tested. If fishes prove generally to be most sensitive to petroleum components during their spawning seasons, fishery management decisions should take this factor into consideration in protecting the resources.

• Research Organization: National Marine Fisheries Service, Tiburon, CA
• OSTI ID: 6260612
• Journal Information: Fish. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Fish. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 75:1; ISSN FSYBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
560305 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BEHAVIOR
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CONTAMINATION
EGGS
FISHES
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIFE CYCLE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REPRODUCTION
SURVIVAL TIME
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES