Bisphenol A induces yolk-sac oedema and other adverse effects in landlocked salmon ( Salmo salar m. sebago) yolk-sac fry

Abstract

Accumulation and toxicity of waterborne bisphenol A were studied in landlocked salmon ( Salmo salar m. sebago) yolk-sac fry. In a short-term (96 h) exposure to five bisphenol A concentrations yolk-sac fry had higher accumulation rates and bioconcentration factors (BCF 96) than earlier studies have shown for salmon eggs. Furthermore, the conditional uptake rate constant tended to decrease as exposure concentration increased. Fry were also exposed to bisphenol A for 42 days at three concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 μg/l), and changes in behaviour, morphology and histological structure were observed. After 6 days of exposure, the highest concentration (1000 μg/l) of bisphenol A caused fluid accumulation (oedema) in the yolk sac and haemorrhages in the front part of the yolk sac and in the head around the gill arches. Later on, the fry at 1000 μg/l showed phlegmatic behaviour and had darker skin coloration than the fry in the other treatments. At the two highest concentrations (100 and 1000 μg/l) histological changes were seen in liver cell nuclei, where strongly stained fragments were observed. In the control fry and the fry exposed to 10 μg/l the nucleolus was clearly visible and spherical in shape and no strongly stained fragments were present. This study shows that high concentrations of bisphenol A may have both morphological and histological effects on salmon yolk-sac fry.