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Influence of water hardness on gill accumulation and acute toxicity of aluminum in rainbow trout

Rainbow trout were exposed to aluminum at pH 7.25 and
8.25 and four hardnesses (10, 30, 80, and 120 ppm CaCO₃)
for 96 hours in a continuous-flow system and mortality and
aluminum accumulation in the gills were determined.
Temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured
daily for each treatment. Dissolved and total aluminum
concentrations and hardness were determined following exposure
periods of 48 and 96 hours. Aluminum was most toxic
at pH 8.25, and was more toxic at lower than at higher
hardnesses. Water hardness provided a significant protective
effect against aluminum-induced mortality (p < 0.05),
and there were no significant effects for water hardness on
gill accumulation at either of pH. At pH 7.25 no mortalities
occurred under any conditions. At pH 8.25, the accumulation
of aluminum in gill tissues was higher than for pH
7.25 following exposure for 96 hours.
In addition, aluminum concentration and exposure time had a
significantly cumulative effect on fish mortality (p <
0.05).
Possible mechanisms for aluminum toxicity and the
accumulation of aluminum in the gills of rainbow trout were
attributed to the forms and solubilities of aluminum species
at different pH values. Competition between Ca²⁺ and
aluminum for binding sites on the gills likely influenced
aluminum toxic action. / Graduation date: 1992

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/37281
Date14 January 1992
CreatorsBustaman, Sjahrul
ContributorsCurtis, Lawrence R.
Source SetsOregon State University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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