Aromatic hydrocarbon pathology in fish following a large spill into the Nemadji River, Wisconsin, USA
On June 30, 1992, a train accident resulted in a rail car releasing 114,000 L of a complex mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons into the Nemadji River, a tributary of Lake Superior near Superior, Wisconsin (Table 1). Although the majority of the spilled material evaporated, damage to aquatic life was extensive. Several thousand fishes were killed and an inestimable number were exposed to low concentrations (< 5 mg/L) of the chemical concentrate for several weeks (Allen 1993). Fishes that survived the spill were examined within 7 days of exposure to determine the extent of injury when compared to fishes collected from the reference site. The liver, spleen, gill, and head kidney were examined for histopathology. Blood was collected to determine the severity of liver damage reflected by the presence of the serum enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and d - glutamyl transferase).
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1997 |
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Title | Aromatic hydrocarbon pathology in fish following a large spill into the Nemadji River, Wisconsin, USA |
DOI | 10.1007/s001289900373 |
Authors | C.A. Caldwell |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
Index ID | 70177766 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Columbia Environmental Research Center |