Investigation of the biological effects of 2-cycle outboard enginesʹ exhaust on fish

A 2-cycle outboard engine was run in a tank to simulate boatload conditions. After appropriate dilution, exhaust water was led into another tank where fish were exposed. In addition, exposure from extract obtained by acetone/hexane extracted water containing exhaust was used in intraperitoneal injection of juvenile fish as well as in embryo injection experiments. The different areas of investigation were enzymatic disturbances, genotoxicological effects and reproduction disturbances. The investigation so far indicates that the biological effects of the exhaust from 2-cycle outboard engines is a serious threat to the environment. Toxicological effects have been measured in the liver, kidney and blood.