Long-term wildland fire retardants are one important tool used to control and suppress wildfires. During suppression activities, these retardants may enter waterbodies; thus, there is a need to understand their potential effects to aquatic biota. We investigated the effect of three current-use wildland fire retardants to juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) survival in short exposures more realistic to actual intrusion scenarios. Lethal effect concentrations decreased with time and varied among chemicals (LC95A-R > 259-Fx > MVP-Fx). The lowest effect concentrations observed were 2 to 10 times above the threshold used by federal agencies to assess potential impacts to aquatic organisms following a retardant intrusion. These data can be used by resource managers to balance wildfire control with potential environmental impacts of retardant use.
Toxicity of wildland fire retardants to rainbow trout in short exposures
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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Abstract
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Toxicity of wildland fire retardants to rainbow trout in short exposures |
| Series title | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| DOI | 10.1002/etc.5791 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| Contributing office(s) | Columbia Environmental Research Center |
| Description | 7 p. |
| First page | 398 |
| Last page | 404 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |