3. Toxic Effects of Selenium in Fish
50
FIGURE 3.8. Outward appearance and x-ray image of selenium-induced terata
in channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) from Belews Lake. (A, Normal; B, mild
spinal deformity (kyphosis and lordosis); C, severe deformities (kyphosis and
scoliosis) .
1978; Lemly 1985). This reproductive impairment occurred because of
two factors: (1) reduced production of viable eggs due to ovarian pathology in spawning females (necrotic and ruptured mature egg follicles), and (2) posthatch mortality due to metabolism of egg selenium
by developing larval fish (teratogenic deformities and biochemical
dysfunction). Concentrations of selenium in the lake water averaged
10 Jlg SelL (uncontaminated reference locations had selenium concentrations <1 Jlg SelL), but were accumulated from 519 times (periphyton) to 3975 times (visceral tissue of fish) in the biota. The pattern
of accumulation and degree of accumulation were essentially complete within 2 years of the initiation of power plant operation, and
persisted throughout the period of selenium discharge into the lake
(1974-1985). Fish had the highest concentrations of selenium, followed
50
FIGURE 3.8. Outward appearance and x-ray image of selenium-induced terata
in channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) from Belews Lake. (A, Normal; B, mild
spinal deformity (kyphosis and lordosis); C, severe deformities (kyphosis and
scoliosis) .
1978; Lemly 1985). This reproductive impairment occurred because of
two factors: (1) reduced production of viable eggs due to ovarian pathology in spawning females (necrotic and ruptured mature egg follicles), and (2) posthatch mortality due to metabolism of egg selenium
by developing larval fish (teratogenic deformities and biochemical
dysfunction). Concentrations of selenium in the lake water averaged
10 Jlg SelL (uncontaminated reference locations had selenium concentrations <1 Jlg SelL), but were accumulated from 519 times (periphyton) to 3975 times (visceral tissue of fish) in the biota. The pattern
of accumulation and degree of accumulation were essentially complete within 2 years of the initiation of power plant operation, and
persisted throughout the period of selenium discharge into the lake
(1974-1985). Fish had the highest concentrations of selenium, followed