Cough Response and Uptake of Mercury by Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, Exposed to Mercuric Compounds at Different Hydrogen-ion Concentrations

Abstract

Abstract The lowest concentration of methylmercuric chloride (MMC) and mercuric chloride added to Lake Superior water that caused a significant increase in cough frequency in brook trout was 3 μg Hg/liter. Cough frequency is a good short-term indicator of the long-term effects of MMC. The response can be used to predict the safe concentration of mercuric chloride since the long-term effects of this compound are not known. Increases in cough frequency were proportional to the concentration (from 3 to 12 μg Hg/liter) of both compounds at pH 7.5. The fish were more responsive to MMC when the pH of the test water was lowered to 6.0; response to mercuric chloride was not changed by lowered pH. Fish exposed to MMC at pH 6.0 contained more total mercury in their gills and red blood cells than fish tested at pH 9.0. The uptake of mercury by brook trout exposed to mercuric chloride did not differ significantly at pH 6.0 and 9.0.