US EPA

1356516 

Technical Report 

ACCELERATED RATE OF ALBINISM IN CHANNEL CATFISH EXPOSED TO METALS 

Westerman, AG; Birge, WJ 

1978 

EMICBACK/33305 

CULT 40 

4 

143-146 

HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Se and Zn) increased the incidence of albinism during 5 yr of experiments with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Metal-induced albinism resulted from exposure of adult fish and eggs. In egg bioassays, exposed populations consistently exhibited higher percentages (up to 6.3%) of albinos than did controls, but frequencies did not vary significantly for the 6 metals or for exposure concentrations which ranged from 0.5-250 mug/l. Metal contamination in a hatchery water supply yielded frequencies of albinos corresponding directly with those observed for metal-exposed laboratory populations. Since albinism was proven deleterious to fish survival and production, caution is recommended in using metallic compounds in hatchery management. Tests for albinism may prove useful in screening aquatic contaminants for mutagenic potential.