title: The toxicity of creosote-treated wood to Pacific herring embryos and characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons near creosoted pilings in Juneau, Alaska.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from creosote exposure in the laboratory resulted in deleterious effects in developing Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) embryos, and potentially toxic concentrations of PAHs were measured using passive water samplers at 1 of 3 harbor field sites in Juneau, Alaska, USA. Aqueous total PAH concentrations of 4.6 μg/L and 8.4 μg/L from creosote exposure resulted in skeletal defects and ineffective swimming in hatched larvae in the laboratory (10% effective concentrations) and were the most sensitive parameters measured. Hatch rates also suffered from creosote exposure in a dose-dependent manner: at exposures between 5 μg/L and 50 μg/L total PAH, 50% of the population failed to hatch. Comparisons between laboratory and field deployed passive samplers suggested that for at least 1 harbor in Juneau, concentrations sufficient to induce teratogenic effects were found directly on creosoted pilings, within 10 cm of them, and sometimes at a distance of 10 m. Total PAH concentrations generally decreased with distance from creosoted pilings. Creosote pilings contribute to the PAH load within a marina and can rise to PAH concentrations that are harmful to fish embryos, but at a scale that is localized in the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1261-1269. © 2016 SETAC.
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Auke Bay Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carls
authors.affiliation: Auke Bay Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Stanley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stekoll
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D003407:Creosote / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013550:Swimming; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003407:Creosote
keywords: Aquatic toxicology; Creosote; Ecotoxicology; Environmental toxicology; Fish embryos; Herring; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Water quality