US EPA

31455 

Journal Article 

Effects of methanol on the fertilisation of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) ova 

Craig, PC; Withler, FC; Morley, RB 

1977 

Yes 

Environmental Pollution
ISSN: 0269-7491
EISSN: 1873-6424 

HEEP/78/08008 

14 

2 

85-91 

HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. The effect of methanol on the fertilization of chum salmon ova was investigated because methanol from oil and gas pipeline testing is a potential contaminant in northern (Canada) watercourses. Gametes and fertilized eggs were subjected to methanol concentrations (0.001-10%) for brief periods. An exposure time of 32 s allowed an examination of effects on gametes; a 30 min exposure included possible lethal or sublethal effects of methanol uptake during imbibition of the ova. These exposures at methanol concentrations up to and including 1% did not significantly affect fertilization successs, survival to hatching, hatching time, alevin size at hatching or physical deformities among alevins. A 10% methanol concentration was lethal in most cases.