EFFECT OF SELENIUM DIOXIDE ON THE ACCUMULATION AND ACUTE TOXICITY OF MERCURIC-CHLORIDE IN GOLDFISH

Acute toxicity tests showed that selenium dioxide was a strong antagonist against mercuric chloride toxicity in goldfish. Paradoxically, whole body accumulations of total mercury were found to be significantly increased with the administration of Se. Maximum binding of Hg to fish was produced by approximately equimolar experimental concentrations of Hg and Se, but higher levels of Se reduced this binding. The greater the Hg accumulation the greater was the ability to survive a given environmental Hg concentration. Much of the Hg was in the skin and surface mucus on the gills and body; however, Se also increased Hg concentration in the inner tissues of the fish. © 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.