Identification of the Constituents of Kraft Pulping Effluent that Are Toxic to Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Abstract

The nonvolatile constituents that are acutely toxic to juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kistuch) have been fully identified in a kraft pulping effluent derived from Douglas fir and western hemlock. Toxicity and material balances were maintained through out a fractionation procedure leading to isolation of the toxic factors.Over 80% of the toxicity was caused by three resin acid soaps: sodium isopimarate (55%), sodium abietate (22%), and sodium dehydroabietate (5%). The remaining toxicity (18%) was contributed by sodium salts of the unsaturated fatty acids: palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic.