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The relationship between tribuyltin (TBT) accumulation
and toxicity to Hyalella azteca for use in identifying
TBT toxicity in the field
U. Borgmann1*,
Y.K. Chau2, P.T.S. Wong1,
M. Brown2 & J. Yaromich1
1Great Lakes Laboratory
for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Department of Fisheries
and Oceans, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6;
2(* current address): National
Water Research Institute, Environment Canada,
Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7R 4A6
Received 10 February 1996; accepted
in revised form 23 April 1996
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Abstract
The relationship between bioaccumulation and toxicity
of tributyltin in Hyalella azteca was determined for future
use in identifying freshwater sites of TBT induced toxicity in the
field. Hyalella accumulated waterbome TBT rapidly, reaching
equilibrium within 1 week. Short exposure times are, therefore,
sufficient to measure TBT availability in laboratory or field exposures.
Accumulation was not affected significantly by body size for animals
between 0.1 and 0.6mg dry weight, eliminating the need for a body
size correction factor. Young amphipods were more sensitive to TBT
than adults when both were exposed for I week. The 4-wk LC50 initiated
with 0-1-week-old young was 4.8 nM. TBT accumulation was approximately
proportional to TBT in water, and the 4-week LC5O expressed on a
body concentration basis was 110 nmole/g dry weight. Accumulation
of TBT by adult Hyalella to concentrations of about 100 nmole/g
or more during short term (1-wk) exposures to environmental samples
would suggest chronic TBT-induced toxicity is present at those sites.
Keywords: tributyltin, Hyalella, toxicity, bioaccumulation
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