Stress and Chronic Effects of Untreated and Treated Bleached Kraft Pulpmill Effluent on the Biochemistry and Stamina of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

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Abstract
Growth of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fed a limiting ration (70% of satiation) in experimental stream channels was not altered significantly by prolonged exposure to untreated or laboratory-treated (fermented) bleached kraft pulpmill effluent (BKME), although mean weights for control fish were consistently lower than those for all effluent-exposed groups from 100 to 200 d. Body protein, fat, and moisture content were unaffected by treatment at 30, 90, and 200 d. Fish exposed to all strengths of untreated or treated BKME (i.e. untreated concentrations equivalent by volume to 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 of the untreated effluent's 96-h LC50 value; and treated concentrations equivalent by volume to 0.2 and 1.0 LC50) showed significant decreases in serum albumin levels at 30 d, whereas these recovered to control values at 90 and 200 d. The serum electrolytes Na+, K+, and Ca++ were unaffected by treatment at 200 d and not measured for other exposures. Liver and muscle glycogen reserves were decreased significantly by continuous exposure of fish to untreated or treated BKME concentrations for 30 d. These values recovered to control levels at 90 d and were unaffected or depressed at 200 d. Plasma glucose levels at 30 d were elevated significantly in all BKME-exposed groups except those held in the lowest concentration of untreated or treated effluent. Blood sugar values at 90 d were increased only by the highest strength of untreated or treated BKME; whereas at 200 d these values were elevated from control levels in all effluent-exposed groups. Levels of plasma lactic acid were unmeasured at 30 d, increased at 90 d in all BKME-exposed groups except the lowest strength of untreated effluent, and elevated at 200 d in all effluent-exposed groups. The stamina of these fish as determined by critical swimming speeds in freshwater was unaffected by exposure to pulpmill effluent for 90 d and unmeasured for other exposures. Based on the changes in intermediary metabolism for BKME-exposed fish at 30, 90, and 200 d, it was concluded that these fish remained in a state of chronic stress and did not acclimate to prolonged exposure to pulpmill effluent. Treatment of this waste reduced or removed its acute (lethal) toxicity but did not alter the biochemical effects caused by chronic exposure. Key words: stress, growth, proximate analyses, albumin, electrolyte, glycogen, glucose, lactate, critical swimming speed, acclimation