DDT: Short term effects on osmoregulation in black surfperch (Embiotoca jacksoni)

Abstract

DDT injected intraperitoneally into black surfperch caused substantial increases in plasma osmotic concentration only at doses much larger than are likely to be encountered in nature. Increased plasma concentrations were below those tolerated by fish adapted to high salinities. Death of marine teleosts from DDT poisoning probably involves factors other than simply osmoregulatory failure.

Animal Biomarkers as Pollution Indicators

“…He found that the potency of chlordecone to inhibit the ATPase system paralleled the decrease of dopamine and norepinephrine binding. Waggoner and Zeeman (1975) found that DDT caused increases in plasma osmotic concentration in black surfperch only at levels approaching lethality, and considered that osmoregulatory failure was not the cause of mortality in fish poisoned by DDT. In contrast the closely related PHAH mirex did not cause these effects.…”