Effects of mining industry waste waters on fish in the Kostomuksha area, NW Karelia, Russia
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The problem of detecting the effects of heavy metals on nature is receiving considerable attention in North America, Europe and Russia.This thesis studies the morphological, physiological and ecotoxicological effects of elevated metal concentrations and changed water quality on individual fish and their populations.The changes are attributable to mining industry wastewaters in the forest lakes of the Kenti river system (North-west Karelia, Russia).Two fish species were studied, the piscivorous perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the detritivorous-herbivorous roach (Rutilus rutilus).Concentrations of copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury and chromium were analyzed in the water, sediment and fish from the Kenti river system.The combined effects of the alkali metals, lithium and potassium, and of lithium alone, were investigated in laboratory experiments using juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).Fish liver and gill structure, lipids and enzyme activities were studied in response to metal concentrations, seasonal factors, and the environment.The release of wastewater caused changes in the water quality and sediment composition.In addition to the abiotic factors in their habitat, the feeding habits and life style of the fish were important factors in their metal uptake.A lower mercury concentration in fish was registered in spring before snowmelt.In spite of the low metal bioavailability caused by the high water hardness and pH in L. Poppalijärvi, chronic Cu exposure was pronounced due to its high concentration in water, sediments and roach.Physiological changes in the gill chloride cell structure imply an increase in osmoregulatory work in L. Poppalijärvi.Cholesterol was shown to be the most adaptive compound in the gill membrane, both in the field and in the laboratory.Lithium may affect fish through diffusive sodium ions losses at the gills and by reduced enzymatic activity of the gills, possibly related to observed lower concentrations of free fatty acids and cholesterol in gill tissue.However, no destructive effects of Li on Na + ,K + -ATPase activity were found in the presence of potassium.
Author: Victoria Tkatcheva
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2189499504