Effect of contact time on the acute toxicity of mercury to scale carp

The behaviour of metals in aquatic ecosystems is dependent on various environmental factors. Experiments were conducted in five different contact times (0.5, 2, 12, 24 and 48h) between soil sediment and mercury on Cyprinus carpio var communis. It was observed that contact time with soil sediment had significant effect in reducing the toxicity of mercury. Higher the time of contact, greater the effect. Medium hard water (150 mg/L CaC0 sub(3) of total hardness) had the highest effect as compared to other water in reducing the toxicity of mercury when combined with underlying soil sediment. With the increase in contact time, complexation and adsorption of inorganic mercury ions with the dissolved and particulate phases of water and soil sediment were increased; thereby bioaccumulation of mercury ions by scale carp was more. Applicability of the result of this experiment in natural ecosystems was also suggested.

Mercury toxicity in two intertidal tropical marine molluscs

Lethal and sub-lethal effects of mercury have been studied in Perna viridis and Modiolus carvalhoi. For P. viridis LC30 is 1.0 p.p.m. at 48 h and 0.23 p.p.m. at 96 h. Recorded LC50 values for M. carvalhoi are 0.5 p.p.m. and 0.19 p.p.m. at 48 h and 96 h respectively. The results document that these two species, although inhabiting the same area in the tidal belt, exhibit clear differences in mercury resistance. It is further shown that the duration of exposure affects mortality rates. In sub-lethal concentration, between 0.01 and 0.10 p.p.m. decrease in pedal-gland activity is conspicuous in P. viridis. At concentrations much below LC50 values (at 96 h), although some animals are alive, pedal-gland activity is totally suspended, supporting the assumption that shell closure ability plays a minor role in byssus thread production. In M. carvalhoi total cessation of pedal gland activity occurred at 0.09 p.p.m. of mercury.

Copper-nickel alloys for marine aquacultural engineering

Engineering developments, problems of marine corrosion, fouling and practical innovative applications of copper-nickel alloys in comparison with other materials for marine aquacultural engineering are presented. Coefficient of drag and hydrodynamic force acting on nylon and polyethylene net enclosures have shown a four-fold increase of force in four months at the Cochin harbour due to fouling. Corrosion behaviour of copper-nickel and other copper base alloys are also presented. Effects of copper additions to culture water are reviewed.

Acute toxicity of cadmium to six intertidal invertebrates

Following a static bioassay techniques the acute toxicity of cadmium to six species of intertidal invertebrates was determined. The sensitivity of the animals to cadmium was of the following order: Emerita sp. (burrowing crustacean) Donax spiculum (burrowing bivalve) Perna viridis (sedentary bivalve) Sabellaria clandestinus (tube-dwelling polychaete) Modiolus carvalhoi and Modiolus sp. (sedentary bivalves). The above observation was based on the median lethal concentrations recorded for the different species, Emerita sp. 1.35 p.p.m., Donax spiculum 1.8 p.p.m., Perna viridis 2.5 p.p.m., Sabellaria clandestinus 2.8 p.p.m., Modiolus carvalhoi 5.6 p.p.m. and Modiolus sp. 9.6 p.p.m. The findings throw insight into the toxicity of cadmium to the common intertidal animals which are either suspension or detritus feeders.

Effect of sulphide on corrosion of copper in seawater

The corrosion of ETP copper in natural seawater and putrid seawater has been studied. The corrosion rates and the sulphide content were monitored at regular intervals. In the absence of oxygen in the putrid media, the presence of sulphide favoured a reduction in the corrosion rate.

Oxygen consumption under copper and zinc stress in Perna viridis

The rate of oxygen consumption by Perna viridis pre-exposed to copper and zinc was studied. Those test individuals pre-exposed to various zinc concentrations showed variability in oxygen consumption irrespective of concentrations and pre-exposure period. While those animals pre-exposed to various copper concentrations registered decrease in oxygen consumption at concentrations above 0.06 p.p.m. copper, pre-exposure to concentrations below 0.02 p.p.m. copper did not result in any clear cut change in the rate of oxygen consumption.

Acute toxicity of metasystox to wedge clam, Donax cuneatus from west coast

96h acute toxicity tests were performed using commercial grade metasystox on the marine wedge clam, Donax cuneatus during summer 1985. The behaviour and mortality rates were recorded periodically. Most of the dams responded in opening the shell valves and extending the siphons quicker in low test concentrations (0.004-0.0052 p.p.m) but this was slow and late in high concentrations (0.0056-0.008 p.p.m). Mortality began to occur in 0.008 p.p.m. from 12 h, whereas, in 0.0052 p.p.m. from 60 h onwards. The observed LC sub(0) value was 0.004 p.p.m. and LC sub(50) 0.0064 p.p.m. The regression equation established was Y = 79.0891 + 33.4523 X. The rate of oxygen concentration increased at LC sub(0) and LC sub(50) values compared to control indicating the disturbed physiological adjustment. The results are correlated with physico-chemical parameters of seawater and discussed in the light of pesticide toxicity to the dam.

Determination of acute mercury toxicity to developing stages of Cyprinus carpio and Cirrhinus mrigala

Toxicity of inorganic mercury to different life history stages of fresh water fishes, Cyprinus carpio and Cirrhinus mrigala were demonstrated by static bioassays. 48 and 94% of egg hatching occurred in controls at 72 and 24h of experimentation in C. carpio and C. mrigala respectively. While fish eggs in water containing mercuric chloride showed delayed development as compared to the control. LC50, LC100 and safe concentrations of hatchling, fry and fingerling were calculated. Hatchling and fry were observed to be more susceptible as compared to fingerlings of C. carpio and C. mrigala.

Toxicity of malachite green to the larvae of Penaeus monodon Fabricius

A study was undertaken examining the effect of malachite green on the development and survival of the zoeae, mysis and post-larvae of Penaeus monodon. Sensitivity varied with the different larval stages; the zoeae appeared to be the least tolerant. The prophylactic potentials of malachite green in the control of Lagenidiumand Zoothamnium infesting P. monodon larvae are considered briefly. Toxicity risks may be reduced by application between ecdyses or by the removal of the dye by filtration through activated carbon.

Acute toxicity of un-ionized ammonia to milkfish (Chanos chanos) fingerlings

The acute toxicity of un-ionized ammonia to milkfish (Chanos chanos) fingerlings was determined using a static bioassay system. Median lethal concentrations found show that milkfish fingerlings have a high tolerance to ammonia and it is unlikely that levels as high as those employed for the acute exposure would be found to occur under natural conditions. Although the threat of acute toxicological effects induced by ammonia are remote, such conditions might be encountered in stressed natural environments or in heavily loaded aquaculture systems.

Acute toxicity of unionized ammonia to milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) fry

The study was conducted to determine the effects of varying concentrations of ammonia to milkfish fry. Two runs of static 96h bioassays were conducted to determine the median lethal concentration (LC 50) of unionized ammonia (NH₃) to milkfish fry. Test concentrations were based on exploratory 24h and 48h bioassays and were made in three replicates. Reagent grade ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) was used to adjust the level of unionized ammonia. The 96h median lethal concentration, determined by the Reed Muench method was calculated at 28.029 ppm NH₃ 29.69 ppm. Even at high concentrations of unionized ammonia, most of the fry mortality occurred after 48 to 96 hours exposure. Severe gill damage occurs only at concentrations above 20 ppm, especially above the LC 50. The high LC 50 value obtain shows that milkfish fry has great tolerance to ammonia, that even fry with severely-damaged gills can still recover days after it is returned to favorable culture condition. The result suggest that observed mortalities of milkfish fry under culture conditions are not due to ammonia toxicity.

Chemical forms of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in sediments of the northern part of the Red Sea, Egypt

Total concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals in sediment samples from the Gulf of Suez and the northern part of the Red Sea, collected during January 2003, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Maximum concentrations of 49.56, 65.42, 33.52 and 3.52 µg/g were recorded for total Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd respectively at Adabiya location. These may reflect the high contribution of land-based activities in the northern part of the Gulf. Also, high percentages of heavy metals were found in the residual fraction (Cu=78.61, Zn=77.10 and Pb=66.80%) while a high percentage of Cd was found in the carbonate fraction (45.82%). However, few or negligible percentages were recorded in the exchangeable fractions (Cu=0.51, Zn=1.57 and Pb=1.74%). Concentration of Cd in the exchangeable fraction was too low to be detected.

Copper and manganese forms in Lake Edku sediments, Alexandria, Egypt

Lake Edku is one of the Nile Delta lakes. It is subjected to contaminations by several anthropogenic materials such as trace elements and other wastes. The distribution of the different chemical forms of copper and manganese has been studied using sequential extraction techniques. Chemical analysis of the sediments shows that CaCO sub(3) ranged from 3.7% to 9.6% and organic matter from 3.06% to 8.11%. The results indicate that the distribution of manganese among the six chemical forms in the sediments of the lake obeys the following order: Mn-residual>Mn-carbonate>Mn-moderately reducible>Mn-organic form>Mn-exchangeable > Mn-easily reducible fraction. Also, the data revealed that more than 50% of the total manganese was found in the residual form, while the remainder was distributed among the other forms. In contrast, more than 70% of the total copper content was associated with the five chemical forms (exchangeable, carbonate, easily and moderately reducible and organic forms). Generally, the enrichment of manganese in the residual form revealed the important role in building up of clay minerals, while the distribution of copper among the different forms reflects an important role in biological and biochemical processes.

Toxicity test: Sponge toxin on tilapia fry

The research was conducted to determine the toxicity of extracts from five Philippine species of marine sponges on tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fry. It was found out that the most potent was the methanol extract of Dysidea herbacea, it kills with the least toxin and at the shortest time.

The toxicity of four insecticides and a herbicide under tropical conditions

The toxicities of four insecticides and a herbicide to Tilapia macrochir were tested in the laboratory. The 24 hour LC50's were estimated as follows: Endrin 20% ,0.008 ppm; Lindane 5% granules, 4.6 ppmm; Synexa 50 (HCH) 50%), 5.6 ppm; Synex 25 (HCH 25%), 14.8 ppm; TOK herbicide (Nitrofen), 100% survival for 24 hours at 100 ppm. These estimates agree with results obtained by other workers elsewhere in the world. The laboratory determination of toxicity is important in estimating the direct effects of poisonous substances on fish, but other indirect effects may result from their use. These should be investigated in the field.