Short-term exposure to hydrogen peroxide induces mortality and alters exploratory behaviour of European lobster (Homarus gammarus).

Short-term exposure to hydrogen peroxide induces mortality and alters exploratory behaviour of European lobster (Homarus gammarus). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2020 Aug 11;204:111111 Authors: Escobar-Lux RH, Parsons AE, Samuelsen OB, Agnalt AL Abstract Bath treatment chemotherapeutants, used to control sea lice infestations in the salmonid aquaculture industry, are released directly into the marine environment around fish farms and pose a serious risk to non-target species, particularly crustaceans. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the most frequently used bath treatment chemotherapeutant on Norwegian fish farms, however, limited information is available on its toxicity to European lobsters (Homarus gammarus), a commercially important species at risk of exposure due to its distribution overlapping with salmon farm locations. The aim of this study was to investigate the lethal effects of H2O2 on pelagic (stage I-IV) larvae/post-larvae and its sub-lethal effects on the benthic stage V H. gammarus. To assess the lethal effects of H2O2, we carried out a series of 1 h toxicity tests and assessed mortality after a 24 h post-exposure period. Exposure to H2O2 was toxic to all pelagic larval stages tested, with estimated median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 177, 404, 665 and 737 mg/L for stage I, II, III and IV, respectively. These concentrations represent approximately 10, 23, 40 and 43%, of the recommended H2O2 concentrations used for delousing...
Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf Source Type: research