Abstract
In recent years much work has been done to develop methods to assess the aquatic toxicity of chemicals, effluents, and products. In seeking a more relevant ecological approach to aquatic toxicity evaluation, emphasis has moved toward the use of chronic studies to supplement short-term acute studies. This paper describes a multigeneration fish breeding study, used as appropriate, in a flexible hazard evaluation scheme, to assess the effects of potential aquatic pollutants upon all the life stages of fish and upon fish fecundity. The convict cichlid ( Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) was chosen as a suitable species because of its small size, lack of exacting water quality requirements, and ease of laboratory breeding. Results from such a study using trisodium carboxymethyloxysuccinate (NaCMOS), a new sequestering agent being evaluated as a builder in detergents, have shown that 100 mg/liter has no effect on fish fecundity, survival of eggs and fry, or adult breeding behaviour. This concentration is two orders of magnitude greater than the predicted aquatic environmental concentration under the most unfavorable conditions of its use, sewage treatment and discharge. Data from such studies may then form part of an assessment of the environmental acceptability of products and chemicals which may be legally required before manufacture or marketing.
Published Version
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