Contaminant Accumulation and Physiological Response in Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) Reared on Naturally Contaminated Diets

Abstract

Juvenile rainbow trout were reared for 24 wk on practical-type diets formulated with fish meals derived from coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) taken from Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and the Pacific Ocean. Levels of contaminants (DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, mirex, and PCBs) increased 10-fold from control and Pacific Ocean salmon-based diets to Lake Ontario salmon-based diets. Rainbow trout accumulated contaminants in direct proportion to dietary levels. However, there were no significant differences in the final body weights, feed to gain ratios, or mortality rates of the trout reared on the different test diets. No signs of abnormal behavior or any indication of histopathological abnormalities were observed in any of the fish. There were no signs of thyroid hyperplasia or any significant decline in serum T3 or T4 levels with increasing dietary contaminant levels. Therefore, rainbow trout do not appear to have been affected by the uptake and accumulation of contaminants. However, the trout did not appear to regulate their body burden of contaminants; this ultimately could prove to be toxic and may adversely affect the ability of these fish to reproduce and survive. The final concentrations of mirex and PCBs in the Lake Ontario-fed fish exceeded the allowed limits to protect human health; therefore, fish meals produced from Lake Ontario salmon are unsuitable as a source of feed for aquaculture of rainbow trout intended for human consumption.