Acute Toxicity Assays Using Danio Rerio and Daphnia Magna To Assess Hot-Spring Drainage in The Shibukuro and Tama Rivers (Akita, Japan)

Abstract

We investigated the lethal toxicity of Shibukuro and Tama river water near the inflow of Tamagawa hot-spring water in Akita Prefecture, Japan. We first measured heavy metal concentrations in both rivers. We detected iron, arsenic, and aluminum; the concentrations of each tended to decrease from upstream to downstream. We next examined the influence of river water on zebrafish Danio rerio and water flea Daphnia magna. We observed lethal effects in both species, with Daphnia magna more sensitive to toxicity than Danio rerio. For both species, the toxic effects of river water decreased with increasing distance downstream from the inflow of hot-spring water. Our results show that the heavy metals discharged from Tamagawa hot spring have a negative effect on aquatic organisms.

1. Introduction

Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan (maximum water depth, 423.4 m) and was historically inhabited by various fish species such as Oncorhynchus kawamurae, Salvelinus spp, and Anguilla japonica, and by zooplankton such as rotifers and cladocerans (Nakabo 2011). However, in 1940, a waterway was created to introduce water from the nearby Tama River in order to use the lake water for power generation. Tamagawa hot-spring water, which is used for medical treatment, flows into Tama River via the Shibukuro River, which contains hypochlorous acid and has a pH of 3.5 or higher (Tamagawa hot spring water source: pH 1.1 to 1.2) (https://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/pages/archive/39675). Therefore, the water in Lake Tazawa before the influx of Tama River water had a pH close to neutral (6.7), but became acidified to a pH of about 4.2 around 1970 (https://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/pages/archive/39675). Many aquatic organisms disappeared from Lake Tazawa because of the rapid deterioration of water quality (Nakabo 2011). Hot-spring waters often contain naturally high concentrations of various metals. Therefore, if hot-spring drainage flows into a river, it may have serious adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. However, there have been few previous studies on the effects of hot-spring drainage on living organisms, and there are many details requiring clarification.

In the present study, we used the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the water flea (Daphnia magna) to assess the effects of hot-spring drainage flow into a river. To date, these species have been used in bioassays assessing the negative effects of various rivers, for example the Tietê River, São Paulo, Brazil (Rodgher et al. 2005); the Tiber River basin in the Lazio Region, Italy (Cristiano et al. 2020); and the Pearl River Delta region, China (Fang et al. 2012). Fish and zooplankton have a food chain relationship, and together they can help to clarify the impact of environmental pollution on an ecosystem. The zebrafish is a small fish native to India with a body length of approximately 5 cm. It is a model fish for vertebrates and is regularly used for risk assessment of various environmental pollutants. For example, Severo et al. (2020) reported the negative ecological risks of pesticide contamination in a Brazilian river using zebrafish embryos, Li et al. (2016) reported the toxicity of sediments from the Yangtze River estuary using zebrafish embryos, and Rocha et al. (2011) assessed particle-bound pollutants in the Tietê River basin using zebrafish embryos.

Daphnia magna is widely used worldwide as a standard test species for ecotoxicity because it is easy to culture in the laboratory, produces multiple generations, and is highly sensitive to chemicals (Evens et al. 2011). Daphnia magna is also regularly used for risk assessment of various environmental pollutants. For example, Zhang et al. (2020) studied the toxicity of heavily polluted river sediments on Daphnia magna. Giraudo et al. (2019) also reported that a major release of urban untreated wastewater into the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada) altered the growth, reproduction, and redox status in experimentally exposed Daphnia magna. Thus zebrafish and Daphnia magna are well established as test organisms for revealing the effects of various environmental pollutants on fish and Daphnia, although it is still unclear if they are appropriate for the risk assessment of hot-spring drainage .

In the present study, therefore, we first measured the concentrations of metals in the collected river water to clarify the state of metal pollution. Next, we used these two species to perform bioassays of river water collected from the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers near the inflow of Tamagawa hot-spring water, to evaluate any effects on aquatic organisms.

2. Materials And Methods

2.1. Study area and sampling

The Shibukuro and Tama Rivers that were targeted in this study are located in the northeastern part of Akita Prefecture, Japan, to the west and south of Hachimantai Akita-Yakeyama volcano. The Shibukuro River has a channel length of 11 km and a basin area of 41 km² and joins the Tama River. The Tama River has a channel length of 103 km and a basin area of 1219 km² and joins the Omono River. The Tamagawa hot spring is located in the Tamagawa hot-spring explosion crater at the western foot of Akita-Yakeyama Volcano, which is located about 60 km northeast of Akita City. Most of the Tamagawa hot-spring water is neutralized at a neutralization treatment facility, but some flows directly into the upper section of the Shibukuro River. We selected three sampling sites in the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers. The survey points were selected to include those that are expected to show an effect on aquatic organisms and those that are not expected to show an effect (Fig. 1). Site A is located approximately 3.5 km downstream of the Tamagawa hot-spring facility, Site B is located approximately 3 km farther downstream, at the confluence of the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers, and Site C is located approximately 3 km farther downstream in the Tama River.

All water samples were collected from each site in August 2020. Surface water samples were collected from a depth of 0.3 m below the river surface. Twenty liters of water were taken from each site for chemical analysis for heavy metals and for bioassays using Danio rerio and Daphnia magna. Water samples were transported and kept at 4 ℃ until chemical analysis or bioassay. Water quality parameters were measured by using a pH and EC meter (WQ-310; Horiba, Kyoto, Japan), a dissolved oxygen meter (OM-71; Horiba), a salinity meter (YK-31SA; Mother Tool, Nagano, Japan), and a thermometer (AD-5624; AND, Tokyo, Japan).

2.2. Bioassays using Danio rerio and Daphnia magna

We conducted a bioassay using Danio rerio following OECD TG 212 with minor modification (OECD 1998). First, the sampled river water, which was stored at 4°C, was heated to 25°C using a water bath. Next, a dilution series of six concentrations was prepared using dechlorinated water: control, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% test water. Fish eggs were obtained by natural mating and unfertilized or abnormally developed eggs were removed under a stereomicroscope. Fertilized eggs within four hours post fertilization were selected and exposed to each concentration for eight days post fertilization (five days post hatching). After exposure, 15 fertilized eggs were transferred to a 100-mL glass vessel (exposure volume, 60 mL) with four replicates for each concentration, for a total of 60 fertilized eggs per treatment. Eggs were observed at the same time each day under a stereomicroscope; abnormal eggs were noted, and dead eggs were removed immediately after observation. The water was changed every two days. The bioassay was conducted at 25 ± 2°C and a photoperiod of 16 h light:8 h dark. After the test was completed, the survival rate was calculated.

The bioassay using Daphnia magna followed OECD TG 202 with minor modification (OECD 2004). First, the sampled river water, which was stored at 4°C, was heated to 25°C using a water bath. Next, a dilution series of six concentrations was prepared using dechlorinated water: control, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% test water. We selected larvae laid within 24 hours from the bred parent Daphnia and exposed them to each concentration for two days. After exposure, five larvae were distributed to a 100-mL glass vessel (exposure volume, 60 mL) with four replicates for each concentration, for a total of 20 larvae per treatment. Larvae were observed at the same time each day under a stereomicroscope; abnormal larvae were noted, and dead larvae were removed immediately after observation. The water was changed every two days. The bioassay was conducted at 20 ± 2°C and a photoperiod of 16 h light:8 h dark. After the test was completed, the survival rate was calculated.

In all experiments, the Danio rerio and Daphnia magna were handled in a humane manner in accordance with the guidelines of Akita Prefectural University, Japan.

2.3. Chemical analysis for Fe, As, and Al

Sato et al. (2005) reported that the main heavy metals flowing out of Tamagawa hot spring were iron (Fe), arsenic (As), and aluminum (Al). We therefore conducted chemical analyses for these three substances.

Fe concentrations were determined by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA280FS, Agilent Technologies Japan, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). Each water sample (200 mL) was placed in a fluororesin beaker to which high-purity nitric acid (5 mL) was added. The beaker was heated for 1 h at 180 ℃ on a hot plate. After the sample cooled to room temperature, nitric acid (2 mL) was added. A portion of the sample was transferred to a test tube and used for flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) analysis. Analytical conditions were as follows: flame type, air-acetylene; air mass flow rate, 13.50 L/min; acetylene flow rate, 2.00 L/min; measurement mode, spectral analysis; analytical wavelength, 248.3 nm. The blank value was 0.0350 mg/L.

As concentrations were determined by using an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer (ICP-MS; Agilent 7700x, Agilent Technologies Japan, Ltd). Each water sample (25 mL) was placed in a fluororesin beaker to which nitric acid (0.25 mL) was added. The beaker was heated for 1 h at 150 ℃ on a hot plate. After the sample cooled to room temperature, a portion of the sample was transferred to a test tube and used for analysis. Analytical conditions were as follows: sampling depth, 10 mm; measurement mode, spectral analysis; plasma gas flow rate, 15 L/min; carrier gas flow rate, 0.35 L/min; high matrix introduction (HMI) gas flow rate, 0.60 L/min; collision cell gas (He) flow rate, 10 mL/min; nebulizer pump rotation speed, 0.1 rps; spray chamber temperature, 2 ℃. The internal standard method (with yttrium [Y] as the internal standard) was used in ICP-MS analysis. The blank value was 0.000050 mg/L.

Al concentrations were determined by using an inductivity coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES; iCAP6300Duo, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tokyo, Japan). Each water sample (25 mL) was placed in a fluororesin beaker to which nitric acid (1 mL) was added. The beaker was heated for 1 h at 150 ℃ on a hot plate. After the sample cooled to room temperature, a portion of the sample was transferred to a test tube and used for analysis. Analytical conditions were as follows: ICP mode, multi-channel; plasma gas flow rate, 12 L/min; nebulizer gas flow rate, 0.50 L/min; auxiliary gas flow rate, 0.5 L/min; pump speed, 50 rpm. The internal standard method (with yttrium [Y] as the internal standard) was used in ICP-OES analysis. The blank value was 0.0063 mg/L.

2.4. Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were conducted as reported previously (Horie et al. 2017). We used custom R code and the package Rcmdr (Fox and Bouchet-Valat 2018) to test for homogeneity of variance using Bartlett’s test (significance level, 5%). If the null hypothesis (i.e., the data are homoscedastic) was not rejected, we tested for differences among treatments using Dunnett’s test; otherwise, we used Steel’s test.

3. Results And Discussion

3.1. Chemical analysis for Fe, As, and Al

Water quality parameters at the time of sampling were as follow (Table 1): Site A, pH 2.96, electrical conductivity (EC) 1292 µS/cm, dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.63 mg/L, salinity 0.0%, and water temperature 20.6 ℃; Site B, pH 3.30, EC 715 µS/cm, DO 4.57 mg/L, salinity 0.0%, and water temperature 17.8 ℃; Site C, pH 6.24, EC 103.9 µS/cm, DO 7.59 mg/L, salinity 0.0%, and water temperature 19.1 ℃.

Table 2 shows the measured concentrations of heavy metals in each sampled river. The concentrations of the three heavy metals at the three sites tended to decrease from the upstream to downstream (Fig. 2).

Sato et al. (2005) reported that the pH ranged between 2.9 and 5 between Sites A, B, and C, the Fe concentration ranged from not detectable to 9.8 mg/L, and the As concentration ranged from not detectable to 0.07 mg/L, with the concentrations decreasing from upstream to downstream. These results are almost in complete agreement with the results of the present study, indicating that the water quality of the Shibukuro and Tamag Rivers, near the inflow of Tamagawa hot-spring water, has not changed much between 2005 and 2020. In addition, our results revealed that the contaminant Al had the highest concentration in the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers, compared to Fe and As. Future studies should investigate the concentrations of other heavy metal contaminants.

3.2. Bioassays using Danio rerio and Daphnia magna

The results of toxicity testing with zebrafish embryos and larvae are presented as the percent survival (Fig. 3). At Site A, all embryos died in the 100% treatment group, and the survival was significantly lower in the 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% treatment groups than in the control. At Site B, 75% of the embryos died in the 100% treatment group, although there were no significant differences from the control in the 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50% treatment groups. On the other hand, there were no significant differences from the control group in survival rate in any of the treatment groups at Site C.

The results of toxicity testing with Daphnia magna are also presented as the percent survival (Fig. 4). At Site A, all larvae died in treatments of 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%, and all treatment groups had significantly lower survival rates compared with the control group. At Site B, all larvae died in treatments of 25%, 50%, and 100%, and the survival rate was significantly lower in the 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% treatment groups compared with the control group. At Site C, the survival rates of larvae in the 50% and 100% treatment groups were significantly lower than in the control group (35% and 85% mortality, respectively), although there were no significant differences in survival rates in the 6.25%, 12.5%, and 25% treatment groups compared with the control group (Fig. 4).

Our results show that water in the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers, where water enters from the Tamagawa hot spring, had negative toxic effects on Danio rerio and Daphnia magna. The lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) for survival at each sampling site are shown in Table 3. For both Danio rerio and Daphnia magna, the LOEC for survival increases from upstream to downstream, indicating that the toxic effect is lower with increasing distance downstream. In addition, the LOEC for survival is higher for Danio rerio than for Daphnia magna.

Martins et al. (2007) reviewed the differences in sensitivity to toxicity between zebrafish and Daphnia magna using various types of chemicals including metals, pesticides, organic chemicals, and solvents. They found that, in acute toxicity tests, Daphnia magna responded to a greater variety of chemicals with a higher sensitivity than zebrafish. Wittlerová et al. (2020) also reported that Daphnia magna was more sensitive than zebrafish in toxicity tests using hospital wastewater. Our results also show that Daphnia magna was more sensitive to toxicity than Danio rerio. In addition, there are reports of the trophic transfer of Zn (Liu et al. 2002) and TiO₂ nanoparticles (Zhu et al. 2010) from Daphnia magna to Danio rerio. This indicates that, in order to protect river ecosystems from environmental pollution, future studies should perform bioassays that consider the food chain. To our knowledge, ours is the first report to reveal the negative influence of heavy metals discharged from Tamagawa hot spring on aquatic organisms, and to detect Fe, As, and Al in the rivers receiving the discharge.

4. Conclusions

We first measured the concentrations of iron, arsenic, and aluminum in the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers. The concentration of each heavy metal tended to decrease in a downstream direction from the point of inflow. We then used bioassays and observed lethal effects from river water in both the zebrafish Danio rerio and the water flea Daphnia magna. Daphnia magna was more sensitive to toxicity than Danio rerio. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use bioassays with Danio rerio and Daphnia magna to clarify the lethal effects of hot-spring drainage in the Shibukuro and Tama Rivers.

Declarations

Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research [B] no. 19H04294) to Y.H.

Data Availability

The authors confirm that all data underlying the findings are fully available without restriction.

Animal Research (Ethics) 

The fish which was used in the present study were handled according to guidelines of Akita Prefectural University and Kobe University.

Consent to Participate (Ethics)

This research did not involve human subjects, so clinical trial registration is not applicable.

Consent to Publish (Ethics)

The authors certify that this manuscript is our original unpublished work, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission.

Plant Reproducibility

The authors confirmed reproducibility. 

Author Contribution

All authors listed on the current study contributed to the experimental design or data analysis. (Kyo Suwa; Sampling and Bioassay: Chiho Takahashi; chemical analysis: Yoshifumi Horie; All experiment except chemical analysis).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research [B] no. 19H04294) to Y.H.

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