Copper uptake and toxicity in tilapia oreochromis niloticus exposed to copper sulphate

Abstract

The copper uptake and toxicity of young and market-size tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, exposed to copper sulP'hate were investigated. A series of preliminary experiments were conducted to provide requisite information for the final experiment. Preliminary experiments established uptake by the culture systems, feed and/or faeces, and. the impact of fish nutritional state on uptake. Other experiments established the median lethal concentration of copper to this species, an extrapolated minimal lethal concentration, and the optimum exposure duration and concentration for copper uptake. The remaining preliminary experiments defined the relationship between toxicity and uptake in small compared to market-size tilapia, and between muscle location (within the fillet) and copper uptake. The final experiment established the amount of copper uptake in the edible tissue of market-size tilapia after a worst-case exposure to copper sulphate. The worst-case was defined as the maximum non-lethal concentration for a period significantly exceeding that encountered in commercial production systems. The worst-case experiment comprised market-size fish (350 to 570 g) being exposed at a nominal concentration of 365 ppb copper for nine days. This study demonstrated that copper did not accumulate in the edible tissue of tilapia above that measured in non-exposed control fish. A mean level of copper in the edible muscle of non-exposed fish, as measured by atomic absorption spectometry, was 2.14 pprn (dry page weight basis), while in fish exposed to a nominal concentration of 365 ppb of copper it was found to be 2.31 ppm. These data are suitable for incorporation into a United States Food and Drug Administration, New Animal Drug Approval application for the approval of copper sulphate use as a drug for aquatic species.