The effects of pulp and paper mill effluent on physiological and hematological endpoints in fingerling largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

• Published in: Drug and chemical toxicology (New York, N.Y. 1978) Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 59 - 67
• Main Authors: Baer, Kevin N., Bankston, Cristy R., Mosadeghi, Sasan, Schlenk, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Informa UK Ltd 2009; Taylor & Francis; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Bass; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hematocrit; Industrial Waste - adverse effects; Largemouth bass; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - metabolism; Physiological and hematological endpoints; Pulp and paper mill; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - metabolism; Stress, Physiological - drug effects; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Largemouth bass; Physiological and hematological endpoints; Toxicity; Pisces; Paper pulp; Micropterus salmoides; Paper mill; Water pollution; Pulp and paper mill; Effluent
• ISSN: 0148-0545; 1525-6014
• DOI: 10.1080/01480540802432643

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bleached kraft mill effluent on selected physiological and hematological endpoints in fingerling largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Fish were exposed for 35 days to surface water collected at sites up- and downstream from a pulp and paper mill treatment-effluent discharge. The condition factor, spleen somatic index, and pronephros cellularity were statistically significantly decreased in fish exposed to the downstream site, compared to the upstream site. There was also a shift from lymphocytes to neutrophils in peripheral blood of fish exposed to the downstream site. Hematocrit values and the liver somatic index were statistically significantly increased in fish in the downstream exposure. These results indicate that in-stream exposure to elemental-chlorine-free pulp and paper mill effluents produce a generalized stress response, leading to potential immunosuppression in fish.