Physiological, reproductive and pathological effects of dietary bleached pulp mill effluent on mink (Mustela Vison)

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Abstract
In this study mink (Mustela vison) were exposed to whole bleached‐kraft mill effluent (BKME) through their diets. The investigation examined clinical, biochemical, induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD) activity, one‐generational reproductive, and pathological effects on mink exposed to BKME through water containing 25% effluent, and diet containing 75% (pilot and first subchronic study) fish caught downstream of the BKME discharge point of the pulp mill. In a 6‐week pilot study, no adverse effects were found on behavioral, gross pathological, histopathological, hematological, or biochemical variables tested. In an 8‐month exposure study, no significant effects on these parameters, or on gestation, kit birth weight, kit survival, libido, estrus, sperm quality, or hormone levels were found. This was followed by a second 8‐month study using double the number of mink (30 BKME‐exposed, 30 controls), and modified dietary formulations. Whole fish was decreased to 45%, and 15% softwood‐run BKME was added to the food. In this study, the liver somatic index was greater in exposed males (p = 0.068) than in control males. Hepatic EROD activity was 1.8 times greater in exposed female (p = 0.0001) and 2.0 times greater in exposed male (p = 0.0004) mink compared with controls.

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