Fluoride retention after dietary fluoride exposure in Siberian sturgeon<i>A</i><i>cipenser baerii</i>

Abstract

This study evaluated the uptake of fluoride ions (F−) in tissues of juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). Fish were fed diets containing 75.2 (Control), 162.6, 360.8, 710.2, 1478.3 mg F− kg−1 in triplicate for 12 weeks with F− added as NaF. Growth was inhibited in fish fed diets with 710.2 or 1478.3 mg F− kg−1, but was not inhibited in fish fed diets with 162.6 or 360.8 mg F− kg−1. The F− concentration in scute, cartilage, skin and gill increased with time and dietary F− concentration, and with the order of concentration at the end of the experiment, highest to lowest levels: scute (7721.3 mgF− kg−1), cartilage (2324.2), gill (721.4) and skin (262.5). Muscle, liver, gut and pylorus did not accumulate F− with increasing F− level in the diet. Thus, F− up to 360.8 mg F− kg−1 can be included in the Siberian sturgeon diet without an adverse effect on growth or survival. The F− as low as 162.6 mg F− kg−1 in diet increased F− concentrations in scute and cartilage, and the high concentration of F− in cartilage is possibly a danger to the consumption of cartilage in sturgeon.