Reduced Growth of Coho Salmon Fry Exposed to Two Petroleum Components, Toluene and Naphthalene, in Fresh Water

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, fry were exposed for 40 days to stable, sublethal concentrations of toluene (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 5.8 μl/liter) and naphthalene (0.2, 0.4, 0.7, 1.4 mg/liter) in fresh water. All fry were fed equal daily rations of Oregon Moist Pellet Formula II. Dry weights, wet weights, and lengths of fry exposed to the two highest concentrations of each toxicant for 40 days were significantly less than controls (P < 0.01). Growth per day, determined from weights and lengths, decreased linearly with increased concentrations. Fry exposed to naphthalene had a slower growth rate than fry exposed to equivalent concentrations (percentage of the 96‐hour median lethal concentration or LC50) of toluene. Concentrations 18% of the LC50 of naphthalene and 26% of the LC50 of toluene had no effect on dry weight, wet weight, or length of exposed fry.