Toxic effects of zinc from trout farm sediments on ATP, protein, and hemoglobin concentrations of Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

Zinc (Zn) is a nutritionally essential metal, and deficiency results in sev ere health consequences to aquatic organisms. in this study toxicity data f or Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri produced by Zn in systems using three natural s ediments (trout farms: El Oyamel, El Truchon, and El Potrero) are presented . Hemoglobin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and protein concentrations were measured in L. hoffmeisteri exposed to spiked sediments, as indicators of exposure. Physicochemical characteristics of water and sediments were also considered. Zn concentrations were measured in water and sediment. El Oyame l, El Truchon, and El Potrero pond sediments did not have similar physicoch emical characteristics. Zn concentrations of water obtained from the rustic ponds were near 0.4575 mg/L; however, this metal was always found to be hi gher in the sediments (0.0271-0.9754 mg/kg). The bioassay with worms demons trated that pond sediments from El Oyamel, El Potrero, and El Truchon produ ced toxicity since ATP and protein concentrations were low compared to cont rols (organisms without metal). All spiked sediments had a significant redu ction effect on ATP, protein, and hemoglobin concentrations. This investiga tion clearly shows that sediments of El Truchon, El Oyamel, and El Potrero possess toxicity potential. These results suggest the usefulness of these b ioassays to evaluate the toxicity of sediments polluted with heavy metals.