Japanese Journal of Environmental Toxicology
Online ISSN : 1882-5958
Print ISSN : 1344-0667
ISSN-L : 1344-0667
Research Note
Development of short term and chronic toxicity assay system using embryonic and larval stages of the euryhaline fish mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus: Toward application to whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing
Rei SomiyaTakeshi Hano Toshimitsu OndukaKazuhiko Mochida
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2021 Volume 24 Pages 62-70

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Abstract

The early life stages of fish are particularly useful for chronic toxicity assessment of chemicals; however, thus far, only a few test methods have been established for marine fishes. The present study aimed to establish a short-term and chronic toxicity assay system using embryo and sac-fry stages of an euryhaline fish mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. To achieve this goal, we examined the optimal exposure duration and endpoints for the toxicity assay in seawater (30 PSU). The survival, hatchability, and dry weight of larvae were evaluated as endpoints after exposure to two typical toxicants, copper (Cu) and 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP). In the Cu experiment, the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) was 0.3 mg/L for larval growth (dry weight), but even the maximum concentration (9 mg/L) had no effect on survival and hatchability. The LOEC of 3,5-DCP on larval growth was also lower than that of the other endpoints (1 mg/L vs. 3 mg/L). These LOECs for growth did not differ between the two test durations (embryonic to larval stage vs. only larval stage) for both toxicants. These results indicate that larval growth is the most sensitive and suitable endpoint for short-term and chronic toxicity assessments in this fish species.

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© 2021 The Japanese Society of Environmental Toxicology
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