Seawater inhibition of nitric toxicity to chinook salmon

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1977)106<105:SIONTT>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:7106728

Crawford, R E; Allen, G H

The relative toxicity of nitrite to chinook salmon fingerlings (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in both freshwater ((Ca/sup + +/) = 32 mg liter/sup -1/) and natural seawater (32.5/sup 0///sub 00/, (Ca/sup + +/) = 396 mg liter/sup -1/) was measured by 48-h static bioassay. The percentage of hemoglobin oxidized to methemoglobin was also determined. In freshwater, the 48-h median lethal nitrite concentration was 19 mg liter/sup -1/. In natural seawater, 1,070 mg liter/sup -1/ nitrite caused only 10% mortality in 48 h. In freshwater with 27 mg NO/sub 2//sup -/ liter/sup -1/, 44% methemoglobin occurred with 70% mortality. In natural saltwater with 815 mg NO/sub 2//sup -/ liter/sup -1/, 74% methemoglobin occurred with 10% mortality. Adding calcium sulfate to the freshwater decreased the toxicity of nitrite but did not reduce methemoglobinemia. Nitrite in calcium-free artificial seawater (100 mg NO/sub 2//sup -/ liter/sup -1/) was highly toxic but did not induce appreciable methemoglobinemia. Adding calcium to this medium decreased the acute toxicity of nitrite. These results suggest nitrite toxicity mortalities resulted from a cause(s) other than methemoglobinemia. The presence of another antagonistic ion(s) in seawater to nitrite toxicity is also suggested.

• Research Organization: Humboldt State Univ., Arcata, CA
• OSTI ID: 7106728
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 106:1; ISSN TAFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOASSAY
BODY BURDEN
CALCIUM
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FISHES
FRESH WATER
GLOBIN
HEMOGLOBIN
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IONS
METALS
METHEMOGLOBIN
MORTALITY
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
POLLUTION
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SALMON
SEAWATER
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION