Accumulation, distribution, and toxicology of nickel in lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, and lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, exposed through the dietary route of uptake

Abstract

Metal mining, milling, and smelting, metal processing, fuel combustion, and waste incineration activities release significant amounts of nickel (Ni) into freshwater systems. Benthic-feeding fish residing in Ni-contaminated systems are exposed to Ni through ingestion of contaminated food items and sediments. Laboratory-based research is needed to provide insight into the potential impacts of the chronic exposure of freshwater fish to dietary Ni. A short-term trial was conducted to investigate the uptake and toxicity of dietary Ni in adult lake whitefish ('Coregonus clupeaformis') and lake trout ('Salvelinus namaycush') fed diets containing 0, 1000, and 10000 [mu]g Ni/g, prepared with and without brine shrimp, over a period of 18 days. Results from this study were used to determine which diet concentrations, diet type, and fish species to use in the long-term experiment. In the long-term experiment, adult lake whitefish were fed diets containing 0, 10, 100, and, 1000 [mu]g Ni/g for 10, 31, and 104 days. The toxicity of Ni was assessed through the measurement of responses, through a range of levels of biological organization. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)