Acute Toxicity of Yellow Phosphorus to Atlantic Cod ( Gadus morhua ) and Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) Smolts

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Fletcher, G. L., Hoyle, R. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1972
• Subjects: General Medicine; atlantic cod; Atlantic salmon; Gadus morhua; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f72-197; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f72-197

The acute toxicity of yellow phosphorus (P 4 ) to Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar) was investigated using two experimental procedures: (a) continuous exposure and (b) single brief exposure.In continuous-exposure experiments, P 4 was lethal to cod and seawater-maintained salmon at concentrations as low as 1.89 and 0.79 μg/liter, respectively. Salmon that were exposed to P 4 concentrations of 40 μg/liter or less developed a distinct external red color and showed signs of extensive hemolysis. At death, salmon that had been exposed to P 4 concentrations of 90 μg/liter and lower showed a progressive decline in hematocrits. In contrast, cod were never observed to show any evidence of external redness, hemolysis, or reduced hematocrits.In the brief-exposure experiments, cod and salmon were subjected (20 min to 3.5 hr) to P 4 concentrations ranging from 245 to 4030 μg/liter. These brief exposures resulted in mortalities to both species that were delayed for as long as 2 weeks. Salmon turned "red" 16–24 hr following exposure, and at death showed evidence of hemolysis and reduced hematocrits. None of the cod exhibited any of these symptoms.