Sublethal effects of Orimulsion-400 on eggs and larvae of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.)

Orimulsion-400 is a novel bitumen-emulsion power plant fuel. We exposed Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.) eggs to 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/L concentrations of an oil-in-water dispersion of Orimulsion-400 for a 24-h period. No significant differences were found in daily mortality or percent hatch. The 1,000 mg/L exposure resulted in a significantly higher incidence of premature hatch, indicated by significantly shorter incubation time, significantly smaller total length and notochord length, and significantly greater yolk sac depth. The larvae exposed to the 1,000 mg/L treatment also had a significantly higher incidence of abnormalities than all other treatments.