Embryopathic Effects of Waterborne and Sediment-Accumulated Cadmium,Mercury and Zinc on Reproduction and Survival of Fish and Amphibian Populations in Kentucky.

摘要

Fish and amphibian egg cultures were used to determine the embryopathic effects of cadmium,mercury,and zinc released from natural and metal-enriched sediments,and to develop egg culture bioassay procedures suitable for monitoring bottom sediments for hazardous contaminants. Eggs of the narrow-mouthed toad, goldfish,and rainbow trout were cultured in contaminant-free water added to natural and metal-enriched sediments. Exposure was initiated after fertilization (toad,and goldfish) or at 10days prehatching (trout) and maintained continuously through 4-10days posthatching. Sediments were enriched with 0.1-100ppm cadmium and mercury and 1.0-1000ppm zinc. Natural control sediments contained average concentrations of 0.052ppm mercury, 1.0ppm cadmium,and 108.2ppm zinc. Substantial frequencies of mortality and teratogenesis occurred for all 3animal species when eggs were cultured over natural sediments further enriched with as little as 0.1-1.0ppm cadmium or mercury and 1-10ppm zinc. Survival of trout embryos and alevins closely paralleled sediment test concentrations.