White sucker (Catostomus commersoni) growth and sexual maturation in pulp mill-contaminated and reference rivers

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1897/1552-8618(1995)14[317:WSCCGA]2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6524613

Gagnon, M M; Bussieres, D; Dodson, J J ^[1]; Hodson, P V ^[2]

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1. Univ. Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec (Canada)
2. Canada Center for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario (Canada)

Induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and accumulation of chlorophenolic compounds typical of bleached-kraft mill effluent (BKME) in fish sampled downstream of a pulp mill on the St. Maurice River, Quebec, Canada, provided evidence of chemical exposure to BKME. In comparison, fish sampled over the same distances and in similar habitats in a noncontaminated reference river, the Gatineau River, demonstrated low EROD activity and contamination levels. Accelerated growth of white suckers occurred between 2 and 10 years of age in both rivers at downstream stations relative to upstream stations, suggesting the existence of gradients of nutrient enrichment independent of BKME contamination. The impact of BKME exposure was expressed as reduced investment in reproduction, as revealed by greater length at maturity, reduced gonad size, and more variable fecundity. These effects were not obvious in simple upstream-downstream comparisons, but became evident when fish from the uncontaminated Gatineau River showed increased gonadal development and reduced age and size at maturity in response to enhanced growth rates.

• OSTI ID: 6524613
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 14:2; ISSN 0730-7268; ISSN ETOCDK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CANADA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENZYME INDUCTION
ENZYMES
FISHES
GENE REGULATION
GROWTH
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
QUEBEC
REPRODUCTION
RIVERS
SENSITIVITY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION