Acute Toxicity, Respiratory Reaction, and Sensitivity of Three Cyprinid Fish Species Caused by Exposure to Four Heavy Metals

Using 3 cyprinid fish species zebra fish, rare minnow, and juvenile grass carp, we conducted assays of lethal reaction and ventilatory response to analyze sensitivity of the fish to 4 heavy metals. Our results showed that the 96 h LC(50) of Hg(2+) to zebra fish, juvenile grass carp, and rare minnow were 0.14 mg L(−1), 0.23 mg L(−1), and 0.10 mg L(−1), respectively; of Cu(2+)0.17 mg L(−1), 0.09 mg L(−1), and 0.12 mg L(−1) respectively; of Cd(2+)6.5 mg L(−1), 18.47 mg L(−1), 5.36 mg L(−1), respectively; and of Zn(2+)44.48 mg L(−1), 31.37 mg L(−1), and 12.74 mg L(−1), respectively. Under a 1-h exposure, the ventilatory response to the different heavy metals varied. Ventilatory frequency (Vf) and amplitude (Va) increased in zebra fish, juvenile grass carp, and rare minnows exposed to Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) (P<0.05), and the Vf and Va of the 3 species rose initially and then declined when exposed to Cd(2+). Zn(2+) had markedly different toxic effects than the other heavy metals, whose Vf and Va gradually decreased with increasing exposure concentration (P<0.05). The rare minnow was the most highly susceptible of the 3 fish species to the heavy metals, with threshold effect concentrations (TEC) of 0.019 mg L(−1), 0.046 mg L(−1), 2.142 mg L(−1), and 0.633 mg L(−1) for Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Zn(2+), respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to use ventilatory parameters as a biomarker for evaluating the pollution toxicity of metals and to recognize early warning signs by using rare minnows as a sensor.