A subchronic in situ exposure method for evaluating effects in small‐bodied fish at contaminated sites. Issue 1 (20th September 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Jason L.; Sherry, Jim; Parrott, Joanne; Quinn, James S.
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology. Volume 29:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 54
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2011-09-20
• Subjects: Water quality bioassay -- Periodicals; Water -- Pollution -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Microbiological assay -- Periodicals; Toxicity testing -- Periodicals; Environmental toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Écotoxicologie -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Périodiques; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/tox.20772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-4081

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>In situ</italic> fish‐caging studies at contaminated sites can provide information that is more realistic compared to traditional laboratory‐based studies. However, few methods have been developed for exposing sentinel fish species for subchronic durations, and fewer still are optimized for exposing small‐bodied fish while maintaining fish health and growth throughout the caging trial. Those methods typically lack a feeding regimen during the fish caging trial. While that may be acceptable or even appropriate for typical short‐term toxicity testing, it does limit the duration of the exposure, and may not be suitable when post‐caging trials or observations are necessary. Returning healthy fish to the lab following the <italic>in situ</italic> exposure would be important, for example, in studies designed to examine long‐term or multigenerational effects following an <italic>in situ</italic> exposure. In this article we describe a subchronic method for caging small fish at contaminated sites while maintaining growth and reproductive development. Fathead minnow (<italic>Pimephales promelas</italic>) were caged <italic>in situ</italic> for 6 weeks, after which time they were returned to the lab where they were evaluated for health and reproductive performance. Growth and reproductive endpoints revealed no adverse effect on fish due to fish caging and related handling, demonstrating the suitability of our caging and feeding method for long‐term caging studies. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 54–63, 2014.</p> </abstract>