Assessment of swimming activity as an indicator of sublethal toxicity to the fathead minnow
- San Diego State Univ., CA (United States). Graduate School of Public Health
A simple, sensitive acute-bioassay was developed that looks at spontaneous swimming activity as an indicator of sublethal effect due to toxic insult. Although a large amount of work has been done validating aquatic behavior testing, there are still no standardized testing procedures or protocols for their use in assessing environmental impact of pollutants. Attempts were made in this research to develop a behavioral test that was objective and provided a basis for standardization and use in effluent testing. Tests were performed using copper sulfate and zinc sulfate as reference toxicants. Testing procedures involved 24-hour exposures to a range of toxicant concentrations with 12 fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) per concentration. Upon completion, during a 2-minute testing period in a cylindrical aquarium, individual fish were videotaped from above, then timed later to determine actual time in swimming motion, which was averaged for each concentration group. Results demonstrate the sensitivity of the test, as significant differences from controls in swimming activity were observed at concentrations of copper sulfate as low as 1.3 ppb and zinc sulfate as low as 3.5 ppb, both well below Federal criteria for water quality. It is hoped that further research will demonstrate the utility of sublethal, behavioral toxicity tests, and that these tests will be integrated into the battery of toxicity testing procedures currently used by regulatory agencies.
- OSTI ID:
- 85964
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9534%%35
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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