56
3. Toxic Effects of Selenium in Fish
Fishes other than centrarchids are likely to experience WSS if they
reduce feeding and activity during cold weather. In North America,
field and laboratory observations suggest that young cyprinids (family
Cyprinidae) and percids (family Percidae) would also be susceptible to
selenium-induced WSS (Toneys and Coble 1980, Thompson et al. 1991).
Basic knowledge of life history characteristics and feeding ecology,
particularly for young-of-the-year, would allow identification of potentially vulnerable fish species in other temperate regions of the world.
Conclusions
The findings from Belews Lake serve as clear evidence of how selenium can rapidly, yet insidiously, impact fish populations. Several key
symptoms of selenium poisoning were documented for the first time
in the field at this location: for example, damage to gills and internal
organs, cataracts and exopthalmus, teratogenic deformities, and reproductive failure. This case also demonstrated that selenium can accumulate and be biologically magnified to toxic levels when waterborne
concentrations are only 5 to 10 Ilg SelL. This has important implications for hazard assessment and water quality criteria. Lessons learned
from Belews Lake, regarding the mode, rate, and persistence of selenium toxicity, have provided a foundation for protecting aquatic ecosystems in the United States and elsewhere for many years. For
example, this information was instrumental in the US Environmental
Protection Agency's decision to lower the United States national water
quality criterion for selenium from 35 Ilg SelL to 5 Ilg SelL in the 1980s
(United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] 1987). The
Belews Lake event has also had a major influence on the development
of the methods and guidelines presented in this book.
References
Cleveland, L., E. E. Little, D. R. Buckler, and R. H. Wiedmeyer. 1993. Toxicity and
bioaccumulation of waterborne and dietary selenium in juvenile bluegill (Lepomis
macrochirus). Aquatic Toxicology 27:265-280.
Coyle, J. J., D. R. Buckler, C. G. Ingersoll, J. F. Fairchild, and T. W. May, 1993.
Effects of dietary selenium on the reproductive success of bluegills (Lepomis
macrochirus). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 12:551-565.
Cumbie, P. M., and S. L. Van Horn. 1978. Selenium accumulation associated with
fish mortality and reproductive failure. Proceedings ofthe Annual Conference ofthe
Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 32:612-624.
Diplock, A. T., and W. G. Hoekstra. 1976. Metabolic aspects of selenium action and
toxicity. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 5:271-329.
3. Toxic Effects of Selenium in Fish
Fishes other than centrarchids are likely to experience WSS if they
reduce feeding and activity during cold weather. In North America,
field and laboratory observations suggest that young cyprinids (family
Cyprinidae) and percids (family Percidae) would also be susceptible to
selenium-induced WSS (Toneys and Coble 1980, Thompson et al. 1991).
Basic knowledge of life history characteristics and feeding ecology,
particularly for young-of-the-year, would allow identification of potentially vulnerable fish species in other temperate regions of the world.
Conclusions
The findings from Belews Lake serve as clear evidence of how selenium can rapidly, yet insidiously, impact fish populations. Several key
symptoms of selenium poisoning were documented for the first time
in the field at this location: for example, damage to gills and internal
organs, cataracts and exopthalmus, teratogenic deformities, and reproductive failure. This case also demonstrated that selenium can accumulate and be biologically magnified to toxic levels when waterborne
concentrations are only 5 to 10 Ilg SelL. This has important implications for hazard assessment and water quality criteria. Lessons learned
from Belews Lake, regarding the mode, rate, and persistence of selenium toxicity, have provided a foundation for protecting aquatic ecosystems in the United States and elsewhere for many years. For
example, this information was instrumental in the US Environmental
Protection Agency's decision to lower the United States national water
quality criterion for selenium from 35 Ilg SelL to 5 Ilg SelL in the 1980s
(United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] 1987). The
Belews Lake event has also had a major influence on the development
of the methods and guidelines presented in this book.
References
Cleveland, L., E. E. Little, D. R. Buckler, and R. H. Wiedmeyer. 1993. Toxicity and
bioaccumulation of waterborne and dietary selenium in juvenile bluegill (Lepomis
macrochirus). Aquatic Toxicology 27:265-280.
Coyle, J. J., D. R. Buckler, C. G. Ingersoll, J. F. Fairchild, and T. W. May, 1993.
Effects of dietary selenium on the reproductive success of bluegills (Lepomis
macrochirus). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 12:551-565.
Cumbie, P. M., and S. L. Van Horn. 1978. Selenium accumulation associated with
fish mortality and reproductive failure. Proceedings ofthe Annual Conference ofthe
Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 32:612-624.
Diplock, A. T., and W. G. Hoekstra. 1976. Metabolic aspects of selenium action and
toxicity. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 5:271-329.