SEDL / STP / STP802-EB / STP33518S

Suitability of a Biochemical Method for Assessing the Exposure of Feral Fish to Lead

Hodson, PV
Program leader, Environmental Toxicology, fish toxicology technician, and contaminants surveillance biologist, Great Lakes Biolimnology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario

Blunt, BR
Program leader, Environmental Toxicology, fish toxicology technician, and contaminants surveillance biologist, Great Lakes Biolimnology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario

Whittle, DM
Program leader, Environmental Toxicology, fish toxicology technician, and contaminants surveillance biologist, Great Lakes Biolimnology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario

Pages: 17    Published: Jan 1983

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Abstract

A variety of biochemical techniques have been used to assess the response of fish to contaminants. These techniques may provide valuable tools for determining the degree of impact on real fish populations of contaminant exposure and for identifying areas of contamination. Many of these techniques have not proven useful because they were not sensible, sensitive, or specific. This paper reviews the use of erythrocyte δ-amino levulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity to indicate lead exposure of fish, both in the laboratory and in field surveys of Great Lakes fish. The enzyme has proven to be a reliable tool in laboratory studies of lead effects on rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). The field survey demonstrated that ALAD activity is a suitable indicator of lead exposure of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) but that more research is required to confirm its applicability to other species.