Nitrite toxicity to Danio rerio: Effects of subchronic exposure on fish growth

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of subchronic exposure to sublethal levels of nitrite, ranging from 15 to 130 mg·l-1 NO2-, on growth in aquarium fish Danio rerio. The juvenile growth test according to OECD 215 was used in the experiments. Fish weight was measured at the beginning of the experiment and then using the same method, fish weight was observed 28 days after fish stocking. Compared to the control, growth suppression was detected from the concentration of 73 mg·l-1 NO2- (P < 0.05) and a significant inhibition of fish body growth was shown from 130 mg·l-1 NO2- (P < 0.01). An exponential relationship between nitrite concentrations and specific growth rate (R2 = 0.896) was detected.