Abstract
Abstract Flounder were exposed to waterborne phenanthrene (0.5, 1 and 2 μM) for 4 weeks to test effects of waterborne phenanthrene on growth and hematological properties of the olive flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus ). The average weight gain (WG) of flounder was significantly decreased in fish exposed to phenanthrene at 2.0 μM for 2 weeks, whereas WGs of fish treated by 1.0 and 2.0 μM phenanthrene for 4 weeks were significantly decreased. However, hepatosomatic index (HSI) and condition factor (CF) of flounder were not significantly affected by phenanthrene exposure. Red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Ht), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) mean levels were decreased with an increase in exposure time of phenanthrene to the fish, but the level of the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was increased. Plasma bilirubin concentrations were significantly increased following exposure to waterborne phenanthrene (2.0 μM) for 2 and 4 weeks; however, there were no significant changes in plasma total cholesterol in fish of all treated groups compared to control. The phenanthrene-exposed groups (≥1.0 μM) showed significantly higher mean plasma lysozyme activity. Kidney lysozyme activity of fish exposed to phenanthrene (≥1.0 μM) was also significantly higher than that of control fish. The central finding from these data is that olive flounder exposed to waterborne phenanthrene at more than 1.0 μM are likely to experience negative impacts on fish health and basic physiological functions.
Published Version
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