Toxicity of TFM (lampricide) to six early stages of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

The lampricide TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) was tested against the following life stages of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri): green eggs, eyed eggs, sac fry, swim-up fry, fry, and fingerlings in four water hardnesses (12, 44, 170, and 320 mg/liter as CaCO₃). The eyed-egg stage was one of the most resistant stages tested, and the sac-fry stage was one of the least resistant. Increased water hardness decreases toxicity to all stages. The LC50’s range from 0.532 mg/liter to 40.0 mg/liter depending upon life stage, water hardness, and duration of exposure. The margin of safety for coexisting species exposed to TFM ranges from 3.2 to 4.1 in natural waters. The margin of safety for early life stages of rainbow trout and larval lamprey under controlled laboratory conditions ranges from 4.2 to 12.2. Therefore, all six early life stages of rainbow trout are safe in minimum lampricidal concentrations of TFM.