Acute toxicity and histopathology of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, mitchill) exposed to aluminum in acid water

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6241423

Tandjung, S D

Fingerling brook trout were exposed to different concentrations of Al at pH 5.6. The Basic Static Acute Toxicity Test was used to determine the 96-hr LC50. The toxicity of Al varied inversely with water hardness. The 96-hr LC/sub 50/ at a hardness of 2, 18, and 40 mg/l (CaCO/sub 3/) was 0.37, 3.4, and 6.53 mg/l Al respectively. Darkening of skin color was possible due to an increase in Na ions in the water as a result of body ion loss, activating the hormone MSH which causes melanin granules to spread within the melanocytes. Histology of all tissues of surviving fish appeared normal 3 months after transfer to uncontaminated water. The lateral line canal was regenerated by the end of the second month of the recovery period. In conclusion, we found that histology was essential to the interpretation of the toxicological effects of Al. The mortality of brook trout was attributed to Al toxicity that increased cell membrane permeability and mucification. Increased permeability resulted in the loss of body salt and an influx of Al and H ions. Mucus on gill surfaces caused anoxia leading to cell degeneration. Death was due to disturbances in osmoregulation, breakdown in enzyme activity, and disruption of O/sub 2/ transport.

• OSTI ID: 6241423
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALUMINIUM
LETHAL DOSES
TOXICITY
TROUT
HISTOLOGY
MORTALITY
EDEMA
ERYTHROCYTES
GILLS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MUSCLES
OXYGEN
PATHOLOGY
PH VALUE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
DOSES
ELEMENTS
FISHES
MATERIALS
METALS
NONMETALS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)