Bioaccumulation, distribution and retention of 63Ni2+ in the brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Brown trout, Salmo trutta, were exposed to water containing 0.1 or 10 μgl-1 of 63Ni2+ for 1 or 3 weeks. Additional trout were exposed to 0.1 or 10 μgl-1 of 63Ni2+ during 3 weeks followed by a 1- or 3-week period without exposure to the metal. At termination of the experimental periods the uptake and distribution of the 63Ni2+ in the fishes were determined by whole-body autoradiography and liquid scintillation spectrometry. The average whole-fish concentration of 63Ni2+ in the fishes was about 3 times higher than the concentration of 6Ni2+ in the water after 1 week's exposure and about 7-8 times higher than in the water after three weeks' exposure. Our results show that there is a moderate bioaccumulation of nickel by fishes from the water. (author)