Innovative and robust methods are needed to evaluate the risks to native aquatic organisms exposed to organic compounds released from contaminated sediments. In the present study, we deployed semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) above sediments in a contaminated harbor at a location in the Laurentian Great Lakes (i.e. Owen Sound Bay) and prepared extracts from these passive samplers for analysis of organic contaminants and for toxicity testing using early life stages of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). The concentrations of several classes of organic contaminants estimated from analysis of the SPMD extracts indicated that several polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) were present in the water column in the inner harbor of Owen Sound Bay at concentrations higher than water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life. Several medaka exposed to the SPMD extract from the inner harbor as well as a positive control compound, benzo[a]pyrene, developed yolk sac edema. However, whitefish did not show the same response. Overall, these data indicate this contamination could contribute to toxicity in sensitive species. The coupling of passive sampling and in vivo bioassays with early life stages of fish shows promise as a method to assess the potential for risks from biologically available fractions of organic contaminants in water. A novel aspect of the present study is the development of a bioassay procedure with early life stages of lake whitefish involving exposures at low temperatures over durations of time that are longer than the bioassays with more conventional model fish species.

需要创新和稳健的方法来评估暴露于受污染沉积物释放的有机化合物的本地水生生物的风险。在本研究中，我们将半透膜装置 (SPMD) 部署在劳伦大湖（即欧文桑德湾）某处受污染港口的沉积物上方，并从这些被动采样器中制备提取物，用于分析有机污染物和毒性使用日本青鳉 ( Oryzias latipes ) 和湖白鱼 ( Coregonus clupeaformis ) 的早期生命阶段进行测试）。根据对 SPMD 提取物的分析估计的几类有机污染物的浓度表明，欧文桑德湾内港的水体中存在几种多环芳烃 (PAH)，其浓度高于保护水生生物的水质标准。生活。一些暴露于来自内港的 SPMD 提取物以及阳性对照化合物苯并 [a] 芘的青鳉出现了卵黄囊水肿。然而，白鱼并没有表现出同样的反应。总体而言，这些数据表明这种污染可能导致敏感物种中毒。被动采样与体内的耦合对鱼类早期生命阶段的生物测定显示出作为一种评估水中有机污染物生物可利用部分潜在风险的方法的前景。本研究的一个新方面是开发了一种生物测定程序，湖白鱼的早期生命阶段涉及在低温下暴露的持续时间比使用更传统的模型鱼类进行生物测定的时间更长。