Toxicity testing of waterborne mercury with red sea bream (Pagrus major) embryos and larvae

Acute toxicity tests revealed that, in red sea bream (Pagrus major) embryos, 24 and 48 h LC(50) values of waterborne HgCl(2) were 67.3 and 39.1 μg Hg(2+) L(-1). In larvae, 48, 72 and 96 h LC(50) values were 41.9, 36.1 and 34.8 μg Hg(2+) L(-1), respectively. Sub-chronic toxicity tests indicated that mercury concentrations ≥20 μg Hg(2+) L(-1) decreased hatching success, increased mortality and induced teratogenicity in embryos and larvae. The NOEC, LOEC and MATC values were 8.0, 16.3 and 11.4 μg Hg(2+) L(-1) for hatching success, mortality and teratogenicity; while those were 27.0, 36.9 and 31.6 μg Hg(2+) L(-1) for body length and specific growth rate, respectively.