TP3 Linking Aquatic Toxicology with Ecosystem Indicators
Ballroom G, Level 4
2:10 PM - 5:30 PM, Tuesday, 11 November 2003
Chair: Anderson, Susan ,
(268) Developing an Indicator for Photo-Induced Toxicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.
Simcik, M1, Adams, A1, Lehr, R1, Swackhamer, D1, Diamond, S2, Mount, D2, 1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA2 US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, USA
ABSTRACT- Photo-induced toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is a mechanism in which UV light excites PAH molecules and subsequently produced reactive oxygen species cause oxidative damage to tissues. This damage can lead to immobilization and ultimately death of the organism. It is hypothesized that larval fish are particularly susceptible to photo-induced toxicity because of their composition and behavior. As part of the Great Lakes Ecological Indicators (GLEI) project we are developing and validating an indicator of photo-induced toxic potential to larval fish in the coastal Great Lakes. The development, range of values for validation, ecological relevance and incorporation into a larger suite of indicators will be discussed.
Key words: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, photo-induced toxicity, Great Lakes, indicator