Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Embryopathic Effects Of Waterborne And Sediment-Accumulated Cadmium, Mercury And Zinc On Reproduction And Survival Of Fish And Amphibian Populations In Kentucky, Wesley J. Birge, Jeffrey A. Black, Albert G. Westerman, Paul C. Francis, Jarvis E. Hudson

KWRRI Research Reports

Fish and amphibian egg cultures were used to determine the embryopathic effects of cadmium, mercury, and zinc released from natural and metal-enriched sediments, and to develop egg culture bioassay procedures suitable for monitoring bottom sediments for hazardous contaminants. Eggs of the narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnei) were cultured in contaminant-free water added to natural and metal-enriched sediments. Exposure was initiated after fertilization (toad, goldfish) or at 10 days prehatching (trout) and maintained continuously through 4-10 days posthatching. Sediments were enriched with 0.1-100 ppm cadmium and mercury and …