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Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

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susceptibility to disease. These authors postulated that such effects could besignificant at the populati<strong>on</strong> level.Neither dieldrin nor toxaphene exhibited a high affinity for the estrogen receptor or thetestoster<strong>on</strong>e receptor in rainbow trout (Knudsen and Pottinger 1999), suggesting arelatively low potential for eliciting estrogenic or antiestogenic effects.Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds - Methyl mercury and organotins are theprincipal inorganic and organometallic c<strong>on</strong>taminants in the <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong> Basin. Datafrom numerous sources indicate that l<strong>on</strong>g-term exposure to mercury is associated witha wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects in fish, including survival, growth, spawning success, time tospawning, fecundity, g<strong>on</strong>adosomatic index, hatching success, larval survival, and larvalgrowth (Dill<strong>on</strong> et al. 2010). Fish can be exposed to mercury in water, sediment,and/or their diet, with total exposure (as indicated with fish tissue c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s)providing the most direct basis for evaluating both exposure and adverse effects.Methyl mercury (MeHg) - Am<strong>on</strong>g the endpoints investigated, reproducti<strong>on</strong> providesthe most sensitive indicator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mercury toxicity in fish. For example, Drevnick andSandheinrish (2003) reported significant reducti<strong>on</strong>s in the levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> male and femalesex horm<strong>on</strong>es in mercury-exposed fathead minnows (diet c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s ranged from0.87 to 3.93 mg/kg), which translated into reduced spawning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these fish. Similareffects <strong>on</strong> spawning or reproductive success were reported in four other studies withthis species, two studies with brook trout (Salvelinus f<strong>on</strong>tinalis), and <strong>on</strong>e study withrainbow trout (Dill<strong>on</strong> et al. 2010). When taken together, the results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these studiesindicate that adverse effects <strong>on</strong> fish reproducti<strong>on</strong> likely begin at tissue c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>sin excess <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.1 mg/kg WW (Dill<strong>on</strong> et al. 2010). An EC10-type level derived from datafrom multiple studies is <strong>on</strong> the order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.4 mg/kg WW (Dill<strong>on</strong> et al. 2010). It is likelythat such a toxicity threshold would provide a relevant basis for evaluating thepotential effects associated with accumulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MeHg in the tissues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong>sockeye salm<strong>on</strong> (see Secti<strong>on</strong> 5.4.3 for more informati<strong>on</strong>).Tributyltin (TBT) and other organotins - Accumulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> TBT and other organotinsin tissues can adversely affect the survival, growth, or reproducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fish, withreproducti<strong>on</strong> being the most sensitive endpoint measured in field or laboratory studies.For example, Meador (1997) reported a median lethal tissue residue c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>0.83 mg/kg WW (whole body) for starry flounder (Platichthys stellus) in a 22-dlaboratory exposure. By comparis<strong>on</strong>, significantly decreased g<strong>on</strong>ad development was93

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