Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Compounds and Proposed PCB-Replacement Products on Embryo-Larval Stages of Fish and Amphibians

Authors

Wesley J. Birge
Jeffrey A. Black
Albert G. Westerman

Abstract

Static renewal bioassays were performed with four polychlorinated biphenyls, including Capacitor 21 and Aroclors 1016, 1242, and 1254. Each compound was used to treat embryo-larval stages of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), leopard frog (Rana pipiens), Fowler's toad (Bufo fowleri), and American toad (Bufo americanus). Developmental stages of the trout were the most sensitive, with LC₅₀ 's at 4 days posthatching of 0.3, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.6 μg/l for Aroclors 1254, 1242, 1016, and Capacitor 21, respectively. LC₁'s ranged between 0.009-0.011 μg/l. Fowler's toad was the most tolerant species, and LC₅₀ 's varied from 3.7-28.0 μg/l. Toxicity of the PCB's generally increased with percent chlorine substitution.

Bioassays also were conducted with dioctylphthalate (D0P), diisononylphthalate, and Dow Corning 561 silicone, three products proposed as replacements for PCB's. Embryos and larvae of the channel catfish, redear sunfish, leopard frog, and Fowler's toad were exposed through 4 days posthatching. Catfish was the most sensitive species, and sunfish was the most resistant. Based on LC₅₀ values, replacement products were found to be 2-5 orders of magnitude less toxic than PCB's.

Continuous flow embryo-larval bioassays were performed on Capacitor 21 and DOP. Test species included redear sunfish, rainbow trout, and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Paralleling results from static renewal tests, flow-through data reflected a vast difference in toxicity between PCB's and potential replacements, and good data correlation was achieved between the two bioassay procedures.

Publication Date

12-1978

Report Number

118

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/kwrri.rr.118

Funding Information

The work on which this report is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Office of Water Research and Technology, United States Department of the Interior, as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964.

The research facilities used to conduct these tests were provided in part by research funds from the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Toxic Substances (contract no. 68-01-4321).

Repository Citation

Birge, Wesley J.; Black, Jeffrey A.; and Westerman, Albert G., "Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Compounds and Proposed PCB-Replacement Products on Embryo-Larval Stages of Fish and Amphibians" (1978). KWRRI Research Reports. 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kwrri_reports/2