Chemical contamination of the Rybinsk Reservoir, northwest Russia: relationship between liver polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) content and health indicators in bream (Abramis brama).

The Rybinsk Reservoir (Russia) is the largest artificial waterbody in Europe (4550 km2) and provides drinking water for population of the cities located along the coast line. Industrialization in Cherepovets at the northeastern portion of the reservoir, including one of the largest metallurgical facilities in Europe, has resulted in chemical contamination of the reservoir. The extent of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination in bream liver, a common fish species, taken from six locations in the Rybinsk Reservoir and Volga River, and biochemical and morphometric biomarkers of fish health were investigated.

[Effect of household sewage on the fertility and size of Ceriodaphnia affinis Lill. in series of generations].

Seven generations of Ceriodaphnia affinis were kept in water of a household sewer. No animal death was observed in the experiment. In a series of generations, the fertility as well as dimensions of newborn water fleas decreased starting from the third generation.

[The health, hygienic and toxicological characteristics of the natural water from the upper Volga].

The paper provides sanitary and toxicological water characteristics in the city of Yaroslavl on the Volga River in 1993-1996. The water was shown to contain high levels of petroleum products, COD, and toxic substances. The water concentrations of phenol were no greater than the acceptable values.

Behavioral indicators of sublethal toxicity in rainbow trout.

Four measures of behavior--spontaneous swimming activity, swimming capacity, feeding behavior, and vulnerability to predation--were assessed as indicators of sublethal toxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in 96-hr exposures to sublethal concentrations of six agricultural chemicals: carbaryl, chlordane, dimethylamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DMA), tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF), methyl parathion, and pentachlorophenol. After exposures, behavioral changes consistently demonstrated sublethal toxicity, but effects on specific behaviors varied with contaminants and their concentrations were altered by the water quality criterion concentration for chlordane (2 micrograms/L), and at a concentration of DEF (5 micrograms/L) that had previously been shown to inhibit growth and survival after a 90-day exposure. Feeding behavior was inhibited most by exposure to DEF, 2,4-DMA, and methyl parathion.