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Ecotoxicological Effects of Short-Term Exposures to Elongated Tunnel Particles from Two Road Construction Sites on Juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar).

Emelie Forsman,H. Teien,H. Bjørgen,Jakub Jaroszewicz,O. Lind,E. Koppang,L. Heier,S. Meland

Published 2025 in Environmental Research

ABSTRACT

Tunnelling through rock to facilitate transportation and logistics is common worldwide. However, the negative impacts of discharge emissions from tunnel construction on aquatic environments are not well understood. This study aimed to increase knowledge about the ecotoxicological effects of particle discharge from two tunnel construction sites (Rafoss and Verket) in Norway on juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish were exposed to environmentally relevant (100mg/L) and high concentrations (Rafoss: 2800mg/L, Verket: 5000mg/L) for 192 hrs. Particles from both sites (47-51% <10μm in diameter), primarily granite-gneiss bedrock and slightly more elongated than naturally eroded particles, created distinct water environments due to geological and chemical differences. This is the first peer-reviewed study to utilize μCT for quantification of particle retention in gills and it allowed identifying concentration-dependent retention, with higher retention for Verket particles, likely due to water chemistry differences. Despite high retention, no histological changes were observed. Mortality occurred at ≥3500mg/L Verket particles after 48 and 24 hrs, plausibly due to suffocation from gill clogging. The LC50 for Verket particles was 3137mg/L. Suffocation likely caused a drop in plasma Cl levels due to elevated pCO2. Elements with high particulate fractions accumulated in gills and stomach contents in a concentration-dependent manner for both particle types, and in livers at ≥3500mg/L. No acute or sublethal effects, including metal toxicity, were observed at concentrations up to 2000mg/L Verket and 2800mg/L Rafoss particles for 192 hrs. These results suggest that common benchmarks of 50-400mg/L in emission permits do not cause acute or sublethal effects in juvenile Atlantic salmon during short-term exposures.

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