Assessment of Tolerant Sunfish Populations (Lepomis sp.) Inhabiting Selenium-Laden Coal Ash Effluents: 1. Hematological and Population Level Assessment

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 203 - 216
• Main Authors: Lohner, Timothy W., Reash, Robin J., Willet, V.Ellen, Rose, Linda A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.11.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; bluegill; Body Weight; Coal; coal ash; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Status; hematology; Incineration; Leukopenia - chemically induced; Leukopenia - veterinary; Liver - chemistry; Lymphocytosis - chemically induced; Lymphocytosis - veterinary; Neutropenia - chemically induced; Neutropenia - veterinary; Perciformes - physiology; Population Dynamics; Refuse Disposal; selenium; Selenium - adverse effects; Selenium - pharmacokinetics; Water Pollutants - adverse effects; Water Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; United States; North America; America; hematology; selenium; coal ash; bluegill; Hematology; Toxicity; Biological marker; Tolerance; Spatial variation; Heavy metal; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Pisces; Ash; Coal; Coal power plant; Condition index; Water pollution; Stream; Selenium; Biological accumulation; Effluent; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1006/eesa.2001.2097

Sunfish were collected from coal ash effluent-receiving streams and Ohio River watershed reference sites to assess the effects of exposure to low-level selenium concentrations. Selenium, copper, and arsenic concentrations were statistically higher in tissue samples from exposed fish than in reference fish. Leukopenia, lymphocytosis, and neutropenia were evident in exposed fish and were indicative of metal exposure and effect. White blood cell counts and percent lymphocyte values were significantly correlated with liver selenium concentrations. Plasma protein levels were significantly lower in exposed fish than in fish from the Ohio River, indicating that exposed fish may have been nutritionally stressed. Condition factors for fish from the ash pond-receiving streams were the same as, or lower than, those of fish from the reference sites. There was no evidence that the growth rate of fish in the receiving streams differed from that of fish in the reference streams. Despite liver selenium concentrations which exceeded reported toxicity thresholds and evidence of significant hematological changes, there were no significant differences in fish condition factors, liver–somatic indices, or length–weight regressions related to selenium.