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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #268421
Title: Tissue-specific copper concentrations in red drum after long-term exposure to sublethal levels of waterborne copper and a 21-day withdrawal

Author
item ROBINSON, CHRISTOPHER - Florida Atlantic University
item WILLS, PAUL - Florida Atlantic University
item Riche, Martin
item Straus, David - Dave

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2012
Publication Date: 1/31/2013
Citation: Robinson, C.B., Wills, P.S., Riche, M.A., Straus, D.L. 2013. Tissue-specific copper concentrations in red drum Sciaenops after long-term exposure to sublethal levels of waterborne copper and a 21-day withdrawal. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 75:1-6.

Interpretive Summary: Juvenile red drum were exposed to a low dose (0.25-0.35 mg/L) copper treatment in a recirculating aquaculture system for 242 days to control disease organisms. The treatment was followed by a 21-day purging period. Skin, muscle, gill, liver and intestinal tissues were sampled for copper concentrations over the 21-day purging period. The liver and intestine accumulated copper at a rate strongly influenced by the water copper concentration. Skin, gill, and muscle tissue did not accumulate substantial amounts of copper. The rank order of copper concentration in each tissue was intestine > liver > gills > skin > muscle. Red drum cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems had low copper levels in muscle tissue relative to wild caught red drum. A 21-day purging period following long-term copper treatments < or = 0.35 mg/L appears to be sufficient to meet the safety standards for human consumption.

Technical Abstract: Juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus were exposed to sublethal waterborne copper (Cu) concentrations (0.25-0.35 mg/L Cu) using a chelated Cu compound for 242 days as a prophylactic treatment to control ectoparasites followed by a 21-day withdrawal period in two 43 m3 recirculating aquaculture systems. Skin, muscle, gills, liver and intestinal tissues were collected on days 1, 3, 5, 15, and 21 during the 21-day depuration. Liver and intestine accumulated Cu at a rate strongly influenced by the environmental Cu load. Skin, gill, and muscle tissue did not accumulate substantial amounts of Cu despite its presence at therapeutic levels. The rank order of Cu concentration in each tissue was intestine > liver > gills > skin > muscle. Predictive equations for tissue Cu concentration in ug/g relative to time of withdrawal (day) and waterborne Cu concentrations (mg/L) were generated using trend analysis. Red drum cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems had low (26-52 ug/g) detectable Cu concentrations in muscle tissue relative to wild caught red drum (414 ug/g). A 21-day withdrawal following prophylactic Cu treatments < or = 0.35 mg/L in red drum appears to be sufficient to meet the safety standards for human consumption.