Effects of Bleached Kraft Mill Effluent on Fish in the St. Maurice River, Quebec

Abstract

Tissue levels of chlorinated dioxins and furans and the physiological and biochemical responses of fish were measured upstream and downstream of a bleached kraft mill in the St. Maurice River, Quebec. Relative to fish 10 km upstream of the source, white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) downstream showed evidence of chemical exposure, chemical metabolism, stress, and altered energy use. Levels of 2,3,7,8–tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin and tetrachlorodibenzofuran in gutted whole fish averaged 23 and 260 pg/g immediately downstream of the plant and declined to 18 and 112 pg/g at 95 km downstream. The activity of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was 10X higher immediately downstream and 5X higher 95 km downstream. There were corresponding increases in relative liver size, hematocrit, serum glucose, serum protein, and fin‐ray asymmetries, with a pattern of response that matched enzyme induction. These responses pointed to a strong effluent effect and followed the patterns of tissue contamination by dioxins and furans and of water contamination by chlorinated phenolics and guaiacols. There were strong correlations between AHH induction and tissue contamination. Whereas lipid levels increased at all downstream sites, condition factor decreased at 95 km from the source, indicating that there may be disturbances in energy metabolism. Effects on sexual maturation, as shown by levels of serum hormones and gonad somatic index, were inconclusive.

In vivo induction of antioxidant response and oxidative stress associated with genotoxicity and histopathological alteration in two commercial fish species due to heavy metals exposure in northern India (Kali) river

“…Similar observations were made by Hodson et al (1992) In order to study the impact of these heavy metals on histopathology, three organs, i.e.…”

Correlation of hepatic biomarkers with whole animal and population–community metrics

“…Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) had significantly higher levels of EROD induction than longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus) or burbot (Lota lota) collected from the same sites (Kloepper-Sams and Benton 1994). In another study on the St. Maurice River in Quebec, hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydrolase (AHH) of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) was more sensitive to induction than that of the predatory northern pike (Esox lucius) taken from the same site (Hodson et al 1992). Differences in hepatic P450 activity may be caused by differences in chemical uptake or accumulation owing to feeding differences and proximity of sediments where inducing agents may be located.…”

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Assessment of the alterations of the aquatic environment downstream from a polluted tributary of the river Po (Italy)

“…In fact, this same increase was observed, for example, in fish (Catostomus commersoni) living downstream from a pulp and paper mill. These fishes also exhibited several metabolic alterations (including monooxygenase enzyme alterations), delayed age and increased size at maturity, smaller gonads and low fecundity (Hodson et al, 1992;Gagnon et al, 1995).…”