Developmental effects of bioaccumulated selenium in eggs and larvae of two salmonid species.
Elevated concentrations of Se have been detected in cold, flowing water habitats near uranium and coal mines in Canada. Fish from these systems have concentrations of Se in their tissues that exceed toxic effect thresholds that have been established for warm-water fishes. However, the applicability of toxic effect thresholds and guidelines to cold water, lotic habitats is a matter of contention in the literature since most cases of Se toxicosis have been documented in standing, warm-water systems. To examine the possibility of impaired reproduction in wild rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinusfontinalis) near coal mining activity in the northeastern slopes region of Alberta, Canada, spawn from both species were collected from exposure and reference sites. Gametes were fertilized in the laboratory, reared to the swim-up stage, and examined for deformities. A significant relationship was observed for rainbow trout between the amount of Se in eggs and the incidence of developmental abnormalities, specifically craniofacial defects, skeletal deformities, and edema. These associations approximate exponential functions with probabilities that 15% of the population would be affected occurring between 8.8 and 10.5 microg Se per gram of wet egg weight, based on probit analysis. These relationships are similar to those described for centrarchids inhabiting a seleniferous warm-water lake. No such relationships were established for brook trout.
Holm
Jodi
J
University of Manitoba, Department of Zoology, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada.
Palace
Vince
V
Siwik
Paula
P
Sterling
George
G
Evans
Robert
R
Baron
Christopher
C
Werner
Julieta
J
Wautier
Kerry
K
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004531:Eggs; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism*; D011336:Probability; D012487:Salmonidae; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements; D014337:Trout; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D012643:Selenium