too small for a representative assessment. An ex¬ 
ample of the proportion of egg resorption because of 
various factors, including petrochemicals, is shown 
in Figure 6. Reduced egg condition was particularly 
associated with high concentrations of ethylbenzene 
and 1, 2-dimethylchyclohexane. These components are 
also among the more toxic and persistent in tissues 
of the low-boiling point petrochemicals. 
High concentrations of benzene were associated with 
blood cell destruction, abnormal blood cell develop¬ 
ment and other blood parameters. There was also a 
correlation between the presence of lesion scars and 
petrochemical concentration, particularly toluene and 
ethylbenzene. 
Concentrations of monocyclic aromatics in the tissues 
of field fish correspond to levels reached in tissues 
of fish exposed in the laboratory to 50-100 ppb mono- 
cyclics (particularly benzene). The bioaccumulation 
was generally about ten times higher than the water 
concentrations (Whipple, et. al . 1981). 
o Chlorinated hydrocarbons. There were relatively high 
levels of PCBs, DDT, and its metabolites, and other 
chlorinated hydrocarbons, including toxaphene, in 
liver and gonads and fish from the San Francisco Bay- 
Delta estuary (Table 3). Concentrations of some 
chlorinated hydrocarbons were at levels resulting in 
deleterious effects in other fish (Jung, Moser, and 
Whipple, 1984). The presence of DDT in liver and 
gonads (not metabolites DDD and DDE) was associated 
with abnormal egg development and necrosis of eggs 
(Figure 4C). Delayed egg maturation rates (vitello¬ 
genesis) were associated with PCBs in ovaries. 
o Heavy metals. There were relatively high levels of 
zinc and copper and other metals in adult striped 
bass livers and gonads (Table 3). The concentration 
of zinc and other metals correlated with decreased 
body and liver condition in some fish. Cadmium, 
nickel, zinc, and copper also correlated with reduc¬ 
tions in egg viability in the 1981 San Joaquin River 
sample. High levels of other metals were found, 
particularly mercury, in some fish. 
o Pollutant interaction. Initial results show pol¬ 
lutants interacted in affecting the fish. In parti¬ 
cular, high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons inter¬ 
acted with chlorinated hydrocarbons to produce ef¬ 
fects on reproduction. Data also show that hydro¬ 
carbons and metals interact to produce deleterious 
effects on egg and liver condition. 
96 
