Common and inter-specific toxic effects in three wild fish species after chronic gamma irradiation of early stages

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 277; p. 107459
• Main Authors: Simon, O., Guirandy, N., Dasque, L., Dubourg, N., Camilleri, V., Cavalié, I., Turiès, C., Bado-Nilles, A., Espinat, L., Réalis, E., Gagnaire, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Life Sciences; Gamma irradiation; Wild fish; Effects; Early stages; Ecological risk assessment
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107459

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on the aquatic environment. We used three wild fish species to compare phenotypic responses with a fish model such as Danio rerio. We focused on embryonic development, a sensitive life stage to stressors like ionizing radiation, to evaluate the effects of exposure to 0.5 and 5 mGy h−1 on Arctic char, trout and stickleback embryos from fertilization to free-swimming larvae. Irradiation did not cause mortality but induced an acceleration of hatching in the three species. These new data on wild species, obtained under comparable irradiation conditions, did not go against the threshold values for the protection of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, irradiation caused inter-specific sublethal effects, such as an increase in non-eyed egg proportion in Arctic char, an increase in the incubation period in trout and an acceleration of larval mortality in stickleback. The consequences of these early effects on the adult stage remain to be studied. [Display omitted] •Choice of species with a long incubation time in order to test the effects of high gamma cumulative doses: Arctic char, rainbow trout and stickleback.•No effect of high cumulative doses on mortality of eggs and larvae.•Confirmed hatching radiosensitivity in these 3 wild fish species.•Abnormal irradiated larvae observed only in trout.•Impaired embryonic development in Artic char.