Effects of a Bleached Pulp Mill Effluent on Growth and Gonad Function in Baltic Coastal Fish

Abstract

Growth and reproductive capacity in perch (Percafluviatilia L.) and roach (Rutilusrutilus (L.)) were studied during 1983, 1984 and 1985 in a coastal area of the Bothnian Sea affected by bleached pulp mill effluents. Comparative investigations were made at a mill producing unbleached pulp. In perch exposed to bleachery effluents effects were observed on length increase rates, somatic condition factors and on gonad development. The fraction of fishes displaying inhibited gonadal recrudescence was high close to the mill, and the size of developing gonads was comparatively small. Growth was faster in exposed fishes, in young-of-the-year as well as in older fish. Effects on length growth could be distinguished as far back as in 1975. Energy storage, expressed as the condition factor, was highest in exposed fishes. The effect pattern was more diffuse in roach, but examples of reduced gonad growth were noted. In conclusion, these studies provided evidence for changes in the energy allocation system in fish exposed to a bleached pulp mill effluent.

Histopathology of skin and gills of fish in pulp mill Effluents

“…Biochemical tests on livers revealed very strong induction of specific cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme activity, elevated levels of ascorbic acid and abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, as well as marked effects on leucocyte patterns and alterations in erythrocyte status and ion balance. Other findings for perch in the same area, such as disturbance of population dynamics (Neuman & KarAs 1988), regression of gonad development , increased mortality (Sandstrom & Thoresson 1988), and increased preval e n c e~ of malformed embryos (KarSs et al 1991), were related to the effluent.…”

Frequent and unexplained gonadal abnormalities in whitefish (central alpine Coregonus sp.) from an alpine oligotrophic lake in Switzerland

“…Alterations of gross gonadal morphology have been reported for a number of fish species at various locations in Europe (Sandström et al 1988, Norrgren et al 1994, Wicklund et al 1996, Jobling et al 1998, North America (Ruby & Cairns 1983, Hunter & Macewicz 1995, Fitzsimons & Cairns 2000, Mikaelian et al 2002) and New Zealand (Kinnison et al 2000. In many of these cases, the etiology of gonadal malformation is not known.…”

Gonadal alterations in male whitefish Coregonus fatioi: no evidence for genetic damage reducing viability in early life stages

“…Examples are found in a large number of species, such as different whitefish species Coregonus spp., lake trout Salvelinus namaycush and roach Rutilus rutilus (Porter & Corey 1974, Scott 1975, Ruby & Cairns 1983, Hunter & Macewicz 1985, Brown & Scott 1988, Wicklund & Bylund 1994, Wicklund et al 1996, Fitzsimons & Cairns 2000, Simpson et al 2000, Rodgers-Gray et al 2001, and a wide range of locations throughout Europe (Sandström et al 1988, Wicklund et al 1996, Jobling et al 1998, North America (Ruby & Cairns 1983, Hunter & Macewicz 1985, Fitzsimons & Cairns 2000 and New Zealand (Kinnison et al 2000).…”