For the commissioning of ultrasound equipment effective for the microphotofouling control of nuclear power plant hydraulic facilities, field studies are needed to confirm its safety for aquatic organisms, in particular for fish exposed to ultrasound. The paper aims to assess the effect of ultrasound equipment (power 500 W, frequency 27 kHz, current 3 A) on the behavioral response, biochemical and histopathological parameters of some Black Sea fish species in the marine environment (Karantinnaya Bay, Black Sea). The experiment was carried out over three days. In each day the ultrasound equipment was switched on for 1 h at an exposure frequency of 27 kHz. Afterwards, the individuals were kept in tanks for another five days to assess possible delayed effects. The irritating and deterrent influences were established at a short distance (10-30 cm) from the ultrasound equipment. The most pronounced behavioral reactions were recorded in red mullet Mullus ponticus, Black Sea horse mackerel Trachurus ponticus, picarel Spicara flexuosum and common stingray Dasyatis pastinaca, the least pronounced ones were noted in European black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus. At the same time, fish mortality was not observed in the experimental and control tanks throughout the entire experiments. There were no significant differences between the biochemical parameters in the blood serum and liver, histopathological alteration indices in liver, gills and kidneys, as well as the total indices of alterations in fish from the experimental and control tanks. The obtained results indicate that the ultrasound equipment with the defined characteristics has no negative influence on fish that allows us to recommend this equipment for the application in the technical water supply system of nuclear power plants.
About the authors:
Tatyana B. Sigacheva, Senior Research Associate, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave, Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), PhD (Biol.), ORCID: 0000-0003-3125-898X, Scopus Author ID: 36990852700, ResearcherID: AAP-9877-2020, mtk.fam@mail.ru
Tatyana V. Gavruseva, Senior Research Associate, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave, Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), PhD (Biol.), ORCID: 0000-0002-9102-0861, Scopus Author ID: 16202640900, ResearcherID: AAP-9893-2020, gavrt2004@mail.ru
Ekaterina N. Skuratovskaya, Leading Research Associate, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave, Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), PhD (Biol.), ORCID: 0000-0003-4501-5065, Scopus Author ID: 12241009500, ResearcherID: U-9246-2019, skuratovskaya@ibss-ras.ru
Maksim P. Kirin, Leading Engineer, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave, Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), ORCID: 0000-0002-4214-565X, Scopus Author ID: 57502865700, kirinmaxim@mail.ru
Natalia A. Moroz, Head of the Department of Biochemical Technologies and Engineering Support, VNIIAES JSC (25 Ferganskaya St, Moscow, 109507, Russian Federation), PhD (Tech.), sv_nata@mail.ru
Contribution of the authors:
Tatyana B. Sigacheva and Ekaterina N. Skuratovskaya – analysis of biochemical parameters in fish tissues, writing the article
Tatyana V. Gavruseva – histopathological analysis of fish organs and semiquantitative analysis of alterations, writing the article
Maksim P. Kirin – conduction of the experiment to study the USE effect on the fish behavior and survival, writing the article
Natalia A. Moroz – ensuring the operation and maintenance of the USE during the experiment, writing the article
All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.