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Science 13 February 1981:
Vol. 211. no. 4483, pp. 705 - 707
DOI: 10.1126/science.211.4483.705
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Articles

Hormesis: A Response to Low Environmental Concentrations of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

ROY B. LAUGHLIN JR. 1, JAMES NG 1, and HAROLD E. GUARD 1

1 University of California, Berkeley, Naval Biosciences Laboratory, Naval Supply Center, Oakland 94625

Crab zoeae (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) were exposed to water-soluble fractions of jet fuel (JP5) for the first 5 days or for the duration of zoeal development (11 to 14 days). Short-term exposure or continuous exposure to low concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons caused no increase in mortality or changes in development rate, and increased megalopal weight was characteristic of such groups. This phenomenon, termed "hormesis," is probably a generalized aspect of environmental stress etiology but has seldom been reported as such.

Submitted on July 25, 1980
Revised on October 21, 1980


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Larval Biology of the Crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould): A Synthesis.
R. B. Forward Jr. (2009)
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Free Cupric Ion Activity in Seawater: Effects on Metallothionein and Growth in Crab Larvae.
B. M. Sanders, B. M. SANDERS, K. D. JENKINS, W. G. SUNDA, and J. D. COSTLOW (1983)
Science 222, 53-55
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