Abstract
Water hardness is well known to affect the toxicity of some metals; however, reports on the influence of hardness during incubation or acclimation on later toxicity to metals have been conflicting. We incubated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) near the confluence of two streams, one with soft water and one with very-soft water (average incubation hardnesses of about 21 and 11 mg/L as CaCO3, respectively). After developing to the swim-up stage, the fish were exposed for 96-h to a mixture of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in water with a hardness of 27 mg/L as CaCO3. The fish incubated in the higher hardness water were about two times more resistant than the fish incubated in the extremely soft water. This difference was similar or greater than the difference that would have been predicted by criteria hardness equations had the fish been tested in the different acclimation waters. We think it is plausible that the energy demands for fish to maintain homeostasis in the lower hardness water make the fish more sensitive to metals that inhibit ionoregulation such as Cd and Zn. We suggest that if important decisions were to be based upon test results, assumptions of adequate hardness acclimation should be carefully considered and short acclimation periods avoided. If practical, incubating rainbow trout in the control waters to be tested may reduce uncertainties in the possible influences of differing rearing water hardness on the test results.
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Acknowledgements
At the time of the testing, CAM was employed by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ); DPH and FSD were both employed by EVS Environment Consultants and subsequently Windward Environmental LLC. Project funding was from the State of Idaho, The Hecla Mining Company, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation, and Asarco Incorporated.
We thank two anonymous reviewers for their insights and helpful criticisms. Reviews of early drafts by Steven L. Goodbred and Patrick W. Moran of the USGS were greatly appreciated. This material has been reviewed in accordance with USGS policy. Mention of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Mebane, C.A., Hennessy, D.P. & Dillon, F.S. Incubating Rainbow Trout in Soft Water Increased Their Later Sensitivity to Cadmium and Zinc. Water Air Soil Pollut 205, 245–250 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0070-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0070-4