The relative importance of water hardness and chloride levels in modifying the acute toxicity of silver to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Biology
Static-renewal 7-d toxicity tests for silver nitrate (AgNO{sub 3}) were performed with juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). The relative influences of calcium and chloride concentrations on median lethal time (LT50) were assessed. For both calcium salts, a 100-fold elevation in concentration increased the LT50 approximately 10-fold. However, a 100-fold elevation in KCl ameliorated silver (Ag) toxicity at least 100-fold, while NaCl protected against Ag toxicity even more substantially, demonstrating the much greater protective effect of chloride relative to calcium. In a separate series of bioassays, fish were exposed to 0.92 {micro}M Ag with varying amounts of NaCl titrated into each tank to alter the free [Ag{sup +}]. The 7-d LC50 occurred at a [NaCl] of 2,500 {micro}M. Using MINEQL{sup +}, the predicted free [Ag{sup +}] at this LC50 value is 0.0285 {micro}M. Further bioassays were performed in which [chloride] was maintained at either 50 or 225 {micro}M, while total [Ag] was independently varied from 0.0092 to 0.0694 {micro}M (1.0--7.5 {micro}g/L). The 7-d LC50 value was calculated at 0.0294 {micro}M Ag (3.18 {micro}g/L) at a chloride concentration of 50 {micro}M, very similar to the free [Ag{sup +}] value of 0.031 {micro}M calculated from an earlier LC50 test at a fixed [chloride] of 730 {micro}M. Elevating chloride concentrations from 50 to 225 {micro}M did not alter the accumulation of Ag in the liver. In addition, there were no significant differences in hepatic Ag accumulation between any of the Ag-exposed fish, irrespective of the total Ag concentration used during the exposure.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 563958
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 16, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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