Evaluation of fish kills during November 1986 and July 1987 in upper East Fork Poplar Creek near the Y-12 Plant
The Environmental Sciences Division (ESD) investigated two fish kills that occurred on November 21, 1986, and July 9, 1987, in upper East Fork Poplar Creek at the outfall of New Hope Pond (NHP) below the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. Investigative procedures included sampling of water at the inlet and outfall of NHP for water quality, examination of operating procedures at the Y-12 Plant and in the biomonitoring program that may have adversely affected the fish populations, review of results of concurrent ambient toxicity tests of the inlet and outfall water of NHP, autopsy investigations of the cause of death of the stonerollers, and laboratory experimentation to evaluate potential causes. The investigations revealed that the cause of death was bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila, which is a stress-mediated disease. The specific stressor responsible for the outbreak of the disease was not identified. Several possible stresses were indicated, including elevated concentrations of mercury and chlorine, excessive electroshocking activity, and elevated levels of the pathogen. Cumulative stress due to the combination of several factors was also suggested. Elevated temperatures and overcrowding may have enhanced the spread of the epizootic but were not the primary causes. The impact on the stoneroller population below NHP was not ecologically significant. 23 refs., 3 figs., 12 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6213467
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-11578; ON: DE91005641
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FISHES
MORTALITY
SEPTICEMIA
TOXICITY
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHLORINE
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DISEASES
EVALUATION
MERCURY
MONITORING
WATER QUALITY
Y-12 PLANT
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HALOGENS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550900 - Pathology