Acute toxicity of antimony chloride and its effects on oxygen consumption of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The purposes of this study were to investigate the acute toxicity and effects of sublethal antimony (sb) concentrations on respiratory activity changes in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Median lethal concentrations were determined in acute tests. The 96-h LC50 value was 14.05 (11.09~17.80) mg L(-1). Common carp were exposed to 4 different sublethal levels of antimony (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg L(-1)) over a 28-day test period and a 14-day recovery period. On days 14 and 28, decreases in oxygen consumption were significant (p < 0.05) for the higher-exposure level groups (4.0 and 8.0 mg L(-1)). An increase in oxygen consumption was observed in the recovery period (on day 42) compared to the respective groups at the same level on day 28 at the higher exposure levels.