Meeting Abstract

P2.58  Wednesday, Jan. 5  Larval development in the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata is effected by sodium hypochlorite, an environmental toxin DAVIS-BERG, E.C.; ROCK, M.O.*; WILSON, B.A.; Columbia College Chicago; Columbia College Chicago; Texas A&M International University edavisberg@colum.edu

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), or bleach, found in effluent from wastewater treatment plants, can act as an environmental toxin. The sea urchin Arbacia punctulata is a common subject of many embryological toxicity tests due to the sensitivity of this species to environmental pollutants. Using concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) that mimic those found in treated wastewater (0.11 ppm, 0.06 ppm, and 0.03 ppm) we observed effects on early larval development of Arbacia punctulata, and most of the larvae were smaller and took longer to develop at higher concentrations of NaOCl. Several distinct morphologies were present. The ratio of normal to non-normal plutei when exposed to NaOCl was significantly greater than control (p < 0.05) and there was a significant interaction between plutei morphologies and NaOCl concentration (p < 0.005). There was a significant reduction in the skeletal length of both normal and retarded plutei (p < 0.05) with an increased concentration of NaOCl.