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Sublethal effects of phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane on Daphnia pulex

Journal Article · · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01700403· OSTI ID:7167223
;  [1]
  1. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann Arbor, MI (USA)

Nearly 500 compounds were detected in the tissues of Great Lakes fish as compared to 8 in tissues of hatchery-reared fish. Lethal concentrations for many representative compounds were determined by testing their acute toxicity (48-hr EC50) to Daphnia pulex. However, the population growth and survival of aquatic organisms over longer time intervals are usually affected at concentrations much lower than the EC50 for a specific chemical. To develop a general relationship between acute and chronic concentrations for representative compounds detected in Great Lakes fish, the authors initiated full-life-cycle testing on D. pulex with phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane. Growth and fecundity of daphnids was measured in 16-d tests in the laboratory. Phenanthrene and nicotine were highly toxic and pinane was moderately toxic to D. pulex in acute studies. For phenanthrene, a compound of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that has been associated with incomplete combustion of organic matter. For nicotine, a compound in the heterocyclic nitrogen class of chemicals that has been used as an insecticide, the EC50 was 0.24 mg/L. Cyclic alkanes, many of which are constituents of crude oil were represented by pinane for which the EC50 was 3.35 mg/L.

OSTI ID:
7167223
Journal Information:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA) Vol. 42:5; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English