Effect of lead speciation on toxicity

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01985543· OSTI ID:7077868

Freedman, M L; Cunningham, P M; Schindler, J E; Zimmerman, M J

Limnologists and aquatic toxicologists generally ignore the interactions between metals and ligands in aqueous systems. Chemical considerations often overlooked in metal toxicity bioassays and biogeochemical analyses of aquatic systems include ligand concentrations, pH, oxidation state, complex formation, precipitation and reaction kinetics. Although hardness and alkalinity are occasionally implicated indirectly in some toxicity assays such considerations usually fail to incorporate the metal-ligand reaction mechanisms. Since the biological activity and availability of metals and ligands may be altered by chemical interactions and water systems may have unique chemical constituents, estimates of chemical speciation that incorporate general reaction mechanisms are necessary for accurate assessments of biogeochemical activity. Chemical equilibrium analysis of the interactions of all constituents in the bioassay mixture provides a relatively rapid and inexpensive method for examination of theoretical chemical speciation. If it is assumed that free or uncomplexed forms of the elements are the biochemically active species, experiments can be designed to fit the most important chemical boundary conditions of the reacting mixture. The efficacy of this approach was demonstrated in out experiments on the toxicity of lead in a synthetic medium.

• Research Organization: Clemson Univ., SC
• OSTI ID: 7077868
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 25:3; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560304* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
ARTHROPODS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COMPUTER CODES
CRUSTACEANS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
MORTALITY
NUMERICAL DATA
PH VALUE
QUANTITY RATIO
R CODES
SOLUTIONS
TOXICITY