Adverse metabolic effects in fish exposed to contaminants of emerging concern in the field and laboratory. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meador, James P.; Yeh, Andrew; Gallagher, Evan P.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 236(2018)
• Page Start: 850
• Page End: 861
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Metabolic disruption -- Emerging contaminants -- Chinook salmon -- Blood chemistry -- Early indicators; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Several metabolic parameters were assessed in juvenile Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) and staghorn sculpin ( Leptocottus armatus ) residing in two estuaries receiving wastewater treatment effluent and one reference estuary. We also conducted a laboratory study with fish dosed for 32 days with 16 of the most common contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) detected in feral fish. Several blood chemistry parameters and other indicators of health were measured in fish from the field and laboratory study that were used to assess potential metabolic disruption. The blood chemistry values observed in feral juvenile Chinook salmon were relatively consistent among fish collected from effluent-impacted sites and substantially different compared to reference site fish. These responses were more pronounced in Chinook salmon, which is supported by the disparity in accumulated CECs. The blood chemistry results for juvenile Chinook salmon collected at effluent-impacted sites exhibited a pattern generally consistent with starvation because of similarities to observations from studies of food-deprived fish; however, this response is not consistent with physical starvation but may be contaminant induced. The altered blood chemistry parameters are useful as an early indicator of metabolic stress, even though organismal characteristics (lipid content and condition factor) were not different among sites indicating an early response. Evidence of metabolic disruption was also observed in juvenile Chinook salmon that were exposed in the laboratory to a limited mixture of CECs; however, the plasma parameters were qualitatively different possibly due to exposure route, season, or the suite of CECs. Growth was impaired in the high-dose fish during the dosing phase and the low- and medium-dose fish assayed after 2 weeks of depuration. Overall, these results are consistent with metabolic disruption for fish exposed to CECs, which may result in early mortality or an impaired ability to compete for limited resources. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Metabolic disruption is poorly studied in fish exposed to contaminants. Plasma chemistry parameters in feral salmon consistent with metabolic dysfunction. Organismal measures (condition factor & lipid content) indicated no adverse effects. Plasma values in feral salmon exposed to CECs similar to food-deprived fish. Plasma chemistry parameters considered as early indicators of metabolic disruption.