Comparing biological responses to mill process changes : A study of steroid concentrations in goldfish exposed to effluent and waste streams from a Canadian bleached sulphite mill

• Published in: Water science and technology 1999, Vol.40 (11-12), p.115-121
• Main Authors: PARROTT, J. L, JARDINE, J. J, BLUNT, B. R, MCCARTHY, L. H, MCMASTER, M. E, WOOD, C. S, ROBERTS, J, CAREY, J. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Animal reproductive organs; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Aquaculture; Bio-assays; Bioassays; Biological activity; Biological and medical sciences; Bleaching; Carassius auratus; Change detection; Downstream effects; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Environmental monitoring; Exposure; Fecundity; Fish; Fresh water environment; Freshwater fishes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonads; Handling; Mills; Physiology; Pulp & paper mills; Rivers; Steroid hormones; Steroids; Sulphites; Testes; Testosterone; Toxicity; Waste management; Waste streams
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00708-8

The effects of final effluents from the Fraser Edmundston bleached sulphite pulp mill, Canada, on the circulating sex steroids (testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone) in goldfish and the production of steroids in-vitro by tests from exposed fish were studied. Goldfish were exposed to 2-40 per cent or 100 per cent final effluent for 16-21 d. Goldfish exposed to waste streams had testicular testosterone concentrations similar to control fish but those exposed to 100 per cent final effluent showed decreased testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone production in the testes. After a series of mill process changes (changes to chip handling, digester operation, improvements in spill control) the goldfish were re-exposed to final effluent. Fish exposed to 100 per cent final effluent had normal steroid levels.