Detrimental effects associated with trace element uptake in lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) exposed to polluted sediments

Lake chubsuckers (Erimyzon sucetta) were exposed to coal ash-polluted sedim ents under conservative experimental conditions (filtered artificial soft w ater and abundant uncontaminated food). After 4 months of exposure, fish gr azing the polluted sediments had significantly elevated body burdens of Se, Sr, and V. Selenium levels were particularly elevated, reaching mean whole body concentrations of 5.6 mu g/g dry mass by the end of experimental mani pulations. Twenty-five percent of fish exposed to pollutants died during th e study. All surviving fish exposed to ash exhibited substantial decreases in growth and severe fin erosion. Total nonpolar lipids were two times high er in fish from the control treatment, but percent lipid did not differ bet ween treatments. Because fish were presented with the same amount of food d uring the study, it appears fish exposed to ash utilized more energy for da ily activities and/or were less efficient at converting available energy to tissues for growth and storage. The results were particularly interesting because we were unable to detect differences in standard metabolic rate (SM R) of fish between treatments. Increased energy expenditures not detectable in estimates of maintenance based on SMR, such as costs of digestion or ac tivity, may have contributed to decreased energetic efficiency. Our finding s corroborate previous studies which have documented the toxicity of ash-de rived pollutants in fish.