Interacting effects of pH acclimation, and pH and heavy metals on acute and chronic toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia (Cladocera)
- Procter and Gamble Co., Cincinnati, OH (United States)
Understanding the factors that modify the sensitivity of the zooplankton Ceriodaphnia dubia to toxicants is important to the interpretation of chronic toxicity data generated for granting industrial permits. Early reports of high sensitivity of Ceriodaphnia to brief pH excursions led toxicologists to question the use of C. dubia as a test organism. Acute and chronic toxicity of pH and heavy metals, pH acclimation to acidic and alkaline conditions and the role of pH in modifying heavy metal (copper and zinc) toxicities were investigated. Ceriodaphnia dubia acclimated near neutral pH had acute (48-hr) lethal concentrations of 4.6 and 10.3 SU. Reproduction and mortality were not impaired between pH 6.14-8.99 regardless of pH acclimation history. Reproduction was significantly impaired beyond these extremes. Acute exposures to both heavy metals at pH 6, 8 and 9 and in water hardness of 180, 110 and 100 mg/L showed C dubia was consistently most sensitive in low pH and low hardness waters. Reproduction and mortality were not so affected by pH in chronic exposures. Similar concentrations of metals at all pH levels resulted in equivalent reductions in offspring per female. The results strongly suggest that effluent guidelines for pH at 6-9 are sound, and that toxicant activity in chronic time frames is directed primarily by concentration and water hardness, not by pH. 34 refs., 2 figs., 8 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5082498
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Crustacean Biology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Crustacean Biology; (United States) Vol. 10:2; ISSN 0278-0372; ISSN JCBID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of pH and hardness on chronic toxicity of ammonia to Ceriodaphnia dubia
Effects of sediment bioturbation by Chironomus tentans on toxicity of heavy metals to Ceriodaphnia dubia
Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BRANCHIOPODS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COPPER
CRUSTACEANS
DAPHNIA
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
PH VALUE
PLANKTON
POLLUTION
REPRODUCTION
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC
ZOOPLANKTON