Lead acetate: toxicity without effcts on the locomotor activity of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque

The concentration of lead acetate which caused 50% mortality of bluegill in 96 h (96 h LC50) is approximately 400 ppm. Sublethal concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 200 and 300 ppm lead acetate did not produce any effects on the locpmotor activity of the bluegill. The observation that lead can reach concentrations which are lethal without sublethal effects on locomotor activity at lower concentrations is unusual and in sharp contrast to studies with other metals (Ellgaard et al. . 1978).