Field-collected crude oil, weathered oil and dispersants differentially affect the early life stages of freshwater and saltwater fishes

摘要: Abstract The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill was the biggest in US history and released 3.19 million barrels of light crude into Gulf Mexico. In this study, we compared toxicity water accommodated fractions (WAFs) naturally weathered oils, source oil, with dispersant mixtures their effects on developing sheepshead minnow zebrafish. Although a freshwater fish, zebrafish has been used as model for marine spills owing to molecular genetic tools available amenability lab care. Our study not only aimed determine effect early life stages these two fish species, but also whether dissolved constituents were similar fresh saltwater, if might be suitable spills. Weathering had WAF composition both except that saltwater oil + dispersant markedly higher PAH levels than equivalent. exposure differentially affected survival, LC50 values %WAF exposures 44.9% (95% confidence interval (C.I.) 42.1–47.9) 16.8% C.I. 13.7–20.5); respectively. Exposure increased heart rate embryos, whereas sheepshead, opposite effect. altered mRNA expression biotransformation makers, vitellogenin neurodevelopment genes species. Muscle deformations found oil-exposed This is one most comprehensive studies date toxicity, highlights species-specific differences cardiotoxicity, estrogenic effects, enzyme induction potential neurotoxicity exposure.