» San Francisco, New York, and Washington have installed the "Intelligent Aquatic BioMonitoring System" developed for the Army to detect toxins in the water supply before it can reach the populace. It's most sophisticated sensor? Bluegills.
rebecca's pocket
.: September 2006 --> Bluegills detect toxins in city water supplies
Bluegills detect toxins in city water supplies
[ 09.19.06 ]
This is great! I did research on these methods over 25 years ago, and I assure you they work pretty well. But the notion of coughing fish still makes me laugh. I guess I've forgotten the 4:00 am lab visits to count coughs.
The trick is that the toxin must tickle the gills. This works really well for heavy metals and cyanide, but probably less well for organic compounds that could bioaccumulate, be carcinogenic, etc.
My high school niece has been assigned a science project on "coughing fish." I am trying to assist her. I am having difficulty thinking of an inexpensive device to monitor bluegills. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank-you!!!!!