Evaluation of Tests with Early Life Stages of Fish for Predicting Long-Term Toxicity

Abstract

Partial and complete life-cycle toxicity tests with fish, involving all developmental stages, have been used extensively in the establishment of water-quality criteria for aquatic life. During extended chronic exposures of fish to selected toxicants, certain developmental stages have frequently shown a greater sensitivity than others. In 56 life-cycle toxicity tests completed during the last decade with 34 organic and inorganic chemicals and four species of fish, the embryo–larval and early juvenile life stages were the most, or among the most, sensitive. Tests with these stages can be used to estimate the maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) within a factor of two in most cases. Therefore, toxicity tests with these early life stages of fish should be useful in establishing water-quality criteria and in screening large numbers of chemicals. Key words: fish, embryos, larvae, chronic toxicity, early life stages