Effects of low environmental pH in the presence of aluminum on filtration properties of the blood of atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

: The time for filtration of whole blood samples through 8 microns pores of polycarbonate membranes provides an index of the deformability of fish red blood cells. Comparison of these and other haematological measurements on salmon before and after exposure to pH 5.0 and 20 microM aluminium for 2 hours shows changes which are indicative of hypoxia. The increase in deformability of the red cells will assist transfer of oxygen from the gills to the tissue cells and hence compensate environmental hazards of low pH and aluminium.