Differences in susceptibility of early life stages of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) to environmental pollutants

Acute toxicity studies were carried out with cadmium, maneb, pentrachlorophenol, 1,2,4,5-tehachlorobenzene, parathion and dieldrin to compare the susceptibility of early life stages of rainbow trout. Short term static bioaccumulation experiments were performed with dieldrin. A kinetic model was developed for the static accumulation studies. The test were performed with fertilized eggs, early eye point eggs, late eye point eggs, sac fry and early fry. Changes in susceptibility are explained by metabolic modifications. In conclusion it is stated that in view of the lack of fish toxicity data, short term exposure of early fry is a practical approximation in establishing toxicant concentrations acceptable for fish.