Pollutants most implicated in deleterious effects on 
fish are, in order: ethylbenzene, 1, 2-dimethylcyclo- 
hexane, benzene toluene; DDT, copper, zinc, cadmium, 
nickel, and mercury. However, other pollutants may 
be involved that we were unable to measure. For ex¬ 
ample, recent measurements show that there are rela¬ 
tively high levels of selenium in liver and gonads of 
striped bass. Several pollutants, particularly chlo¬ 
rinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatics, cadmium, 
and mercury were found at levels sufficiently high 
not only to affect the health of the fish but also to 
potentially affect human health. 
The relevant fact is that there are strong associa¬ 
tions of these pollutants with decreased condition, 
growth, reproduction, and possibly survival of 
striped bass. 
5. Laboratory experiments . Experiments performed in the 
laboratory showed that representative pollutants (benzene 
and zinc) produced effects similar to those observed in 
the field (Jung, Whipple, Moser, 1984; Whipple, et. al . ms 
in prep.). Laboratory exposures equivalent to high chron¬ 
ic water levels in the field resulted in tissue concen¬ 
trations similar to those in field fish (magnitude of 
concentration of benzene and/or other total MAH was ap¬ 
proximately 10X). The effects on condition of tissues and 
organs, and other parameters were also similar. The fol¬ 
lowing were some major results: 
Adults: 
o Benzene induced egg resorption in prespawning females 
similar to that in field fish. Fish with higher 
pollutant burdens when exposed to benzene were most 
seriously affected. 
Juveniles: 
o Uptake of benzene and zinc appeared to be antagonis¬ 
tic -- high concentrations of benzene in the liver 
were correlated with low concentrations of zinc. 
o Benzene appeared to accelerate and increase the 
inflammatory response to roundworm larvae. 
o Benzene was correlated with blood cell destruction 
followed by increased production of immature red and 
white blood cells. 
o Zinc was correlated with decreased liver condition 
(LSI). 
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