Effects of millimeter wave carbon fibers on filter-feeding freshwater invertebrates.
The purpose of our study was to investigate the sub-lethal effects of millimeter wave carbon fibers (MWCF), a military obscurant, on filter-feeding freshwater invertebrates. We observed decreased survival, reproduction, and oxygen consumption in Daphnia magna at realistic loading rates. In experiments with the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), soft tissue dry weight and tissue condition index were not significantly different among control and MWCF exposed treatments; however, using a (15)N labeled alga as food, we observed decreased nitrogen turnover in tissues of clams exposed to MWCF, suggesting lower filtering or ingestion rates. Our findings combined with previous demonstrations of MWCF toxicity to green algae suggest that over a period of several months, bivalve growth may be inhibited, and cladoceran populations may be even more strongly affected by MWCF. Given that these fibers are persistent, further experiments should be conducted to determine the longer-term effects of contamination of water bodies with MWCF.
Soucek
David J
DJ
Illinois Natural History Survey, Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. d-soucek@inhs.uiuc.edu
Dickinson
Amy
A
Cropek
Donald M
DM
D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D049874:Corbicula / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon