Fish toxicity of jet fuels—I. The toxicity of the synthetic fuel JP-9 and its components

Abstract

The toxicity of the jet fuel JP-9 and its components RJ-4, RJ-5 and MCH was assessed in static bioassays on the warm water fish, golden shiner ( Notemigonus chrysoleucas). The 96-h LC 50 of emulsions was 2.0 mg 1 −1 for JP-9, 0.51 mg 1 −1 for RJ-4, 0.61 mg 1 −1 for RJ-5 and 72 mg 1 −1 for MCH. As determined by the 96-h LC 50 values unemulsified fuel (pools of fuel) JP-9 was 235 times less toxic, RJ-4 was 196 times less toxic, RJ-5 was 7700 times less toxic and MCH was 3.3 times less toxic than the corresponding emulsified materials. In continuous flow bioassays with the water soluble fraction of the fuel and its components the effect on egg hatchability and fry development of flagfish ( Jordanella floridae) and rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri) was studied. The no effect of level on flagfish egg hatchability was 0.23 mg 1 −1 for JP-9 and 0.05 mg 1 −1 for RJ-5. Concentrations of 0.83 mg 1 −1 MCH and 0.2 mg 1 −1 RJ-4 did not affect egg hatchability. In rainbow trout studies 97-day LC 50 values for RJ-4 and RJ-5 were 0.045 mg 1 −1 and 0.072 mg 1 −1, respectively, and 23-day LC 50 values for JP-9 and MCH were 0.26 mg 1 −1 and 1.3 mg 1 −1, respectively. The accumulation of fuels in fish bodies was studied and it was found that flagfish can tolerate a total body burden of 0.5 mg MCH g −1 wet weight without lethality. It was also found that body burdens of 0.43 mg RJ-4 g −1 and of 0.27 mg RJ-5 g −1 on a wet weight basis will produce 50% mortality in rainbow trout. Voiding of MCH from fish bodies occurs readily in fuel-free water, but RJ-4 and RJ-5 are retained in the tissues.