Owen Brandt, “Effects of 6PPD-Quinone on Juvenile Yellow Perch Behavior and Survival: A Preliminary Acuate Water Exposure Study”
Mentor: Dong Fang Deng, Freshwater Sciences, Freshwater Sciences (School of)
Oral Presentation: 9:45am Union E260
N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-quinone) is an oxidation product of 6PPD, a chemical used as an ozone stabilizer in tire rubber. Recently, 6PPD-quinone has emerged as a new environmental contaminant toxic to species like coho salmon, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Its toxicity varies by species and fish life stage. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a cool-water fish native to the Great Lakes, has been declining in Lake Michigan, particularly during its first year. Although the exact cause is unclear, factors like invasive species, habitat damage, and contaminants such as 6PPD-quinone may contribute to this decline. The objective of this study was to assess the acute toxicity of 6PPD-quinone on juvenile yellow perch. In the first trial, 40-day post-hatch perch (average weight: 0.19 g) were exposed to three treatments (0, 15 µg/L DMSO, and 15 µg/L 6PPD-quinone) for 48 hours. Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) served as the solvent for 6PPD-quinone. Each treatment included three jars with eight fish per jar, filled with 2 L of water (20°C). No mortality was observed in any treatment. While no mortalities occurred at 15 µg/L, fish exposed to 6PPD-quinone tended to cling to the bottom of the jar, whereas no such behavior was noted in the control or DMSO jars. This preliminary observation suggests that 6PPD-quinone may negatively affect yellow perch behavior. Future studies should test longer exposure times and a broader range of concentrations.