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Rapid detection of sublethal toxicity using fish ventilatory behavior
Author(s) -
Diamond Jerome M.,
Parson Marolyn J.,
Gruber David
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620090102
Subject(s) - toxicant , toxicity , ventilation (architecture) , fish <actinopterygii> , cadmium , toxicology , environmental chemistry , acute toxicity , chemistry , biology , fishery , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Significant changes in bluegill sunfish ventilation were observed at chronically toxic levels of various substances in under 1 h of exposure and usually within 15 min of exposure. A different ventilation response was observed between the heavy metal compounds and the chlorinated hydrocarbon substances. The response to metals zinc and cadmium was characterized by: (a) decrease in signal amplitude and (b) increase in Type I (large volume) coughs or gill purges. The response to chlorinated hydrocarbons was characterized by: (a) increase in erratic movement, (b) increase in gill purges and (c) increase in ventilatory frequency. Our results suggest that fish ventilatory monitoring can provide a powerful tool for rapidly assessing sublethal as well as acute toxicity on a real‐time basis. Furthermore, the type of response generated may be indicative of the type of toxicant in the environment.