Trace Metal Contamination of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from Two Indiana Lakes

Abstract

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from two industrially contaminated Indiana lakes were analyzed for cadmium, zinc, and lead content. Bluegill collected from several uncontaminated sites were used to establish background metal concentrations. The highest mean concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in Palestine Lake bluegill (3.4 gg Cd/g and 220 gg Zn/g) and the highest mean concentration of Pb was found in Little Center lake bluegill (6.1 gg Pb/g). These mean concentrations were significantly higher than background.There is a growing concern about the longterm impact of chronic exposure of aquatic ecosystems to potentially toxic substances. Many laboratory studies have demonstrated that chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of substances such as cadmium, zinc, and lead can cause impairment of the growth and reproduction of fish (Benoit et al. 1976; Brungs 1969; Davies et al. 1975; Eaton 1973, 1974; Holcombe et al. 1976; Pickering and Gast 1972; Spehar 1976). While ample evidence has been gathered from laboratory studies, relatively few data have been collected showing the effects of these metals in natural systems. Pb ND ND ND Little Center Lake b Cd 2.0 (0.3-6.0) 1.1 (0.2-8.7) 394 (95-785) Zn 172 (5-2,300) 31 (2-210) 7,530 (1,550--17,550) Pb 20.1 (6.0--95.0) 7.0 (3.0--14.0) 450 (200-900) Data from Shephard 1976. Data from Bishop 1976.

Effects of trace metals on growth of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) as measured by RNA-DNA ratios

“…Mean cadmium and zinc concentrations in yellow perch collected from the contaminated area were significantly higher (1.72 ug Cd g-I; 146.6 ug Zn g-I) than in fish from the uncontaminated east basin (0.43 ug Cd g-' ; 84.3 ug Zn g-I). These results support the findings of Atchison et al (1977), Murphy et al (1978) and Sullivan et al (1978) that fish can rapidly accumulate sublethal amounts of trace metals and that uptake is affected by the degree of contamination of the ecosystem in which they live.…”

“…However, Phoxinus phoxinus yearlings suffered reduced growth when exposed for 30 days to concentrations as low as 130 ug Zn I-' and adults had reduced growth at 200 ug Zn 1-' (Bengtsson 1974). Zinc concentrations in the ditch area of Palestine Lake in 1975 averaged 293 ug Zn I-' in the filtrable fraction and 270 ug Zn 1-' in the nonfiltrable fraction (Atchison et al 1977). Eaton (1974) found high mortality and reduced growth of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) larvae exposed to 80 ug Cd I-'.…”

“…Reduced growth of brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) alevins has also been demonstrated ). Atchison et al (1977) reported levels of cadmium averaging 17.3 ug Cd 1-' in the filtrable fractions and 30.3 ug Cd 1 -' in the nonfiltrable fractions of water samples collected from the ditch area of Palestine Lake in 1975.…”

“…As a result of the flow pattern, metals entering the lake from Williamson Ditch either pass through the system or are deposited in the sediment in the northern half of the west basin. Therefore, Palestine Lake consists of an uncontaminated east basin and a contaminated west basin (Atchison et al 1977, Wentsel et al 1977a.…”

“…Subsamples were analyzed for cadmium and zinc according to the procedures of Atchison et al (1977). A 0.5 to 1.0 g subsample of each powdered fish was wet ashed with a 2: 1 mixture of HN03-HC104, extracted with ammonium-l-pyrrolodine-dithio-carbamate and methyl isobutyl ketone, and the extract was analyzed for cadmium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).…”