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The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is growing and as a result, environmental exposure is a concern. The objective of this research was to evaluate the acute toxicity of Tm to Hyalella azteca and to understand the potential for toxicity modification by dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the cations Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+. Standard methods were followed for 96 h static exposures in a medium with a hardness of 60 mg CaCO3/L, pH of 7.3 at 23 °C. H. azteca neonates (2-9 d of age) were used and in unmodified media the LC50 concentration was 3.4 µM [95% CI 2.9-3.9 µM; 573 µg/L (482-663)] based on measured dissolved concentrations at the end of the test. Tests done with different concentrations of Ca (0.25, 0.5 and 1.5 mM) did not show consistent trends and there was no clear evidence of a protective effect from Ca. Variations in Na (0.26, 0.5 and 1.6 mM) resulted in no significant changes in toxicity. Similarly, Mg (0.07, 0.14 and 0.4 mM) did not result in significant changes in LC50 values, except for a reduction in toxicity for measured total Tm at the lowest Mg concentration. Our results indicate that Tm toxicity is not influenced by cationic competition (Ca, Na and Mg). Dissolved organic matter (sourced from Luther Marsh ON) offered significant protection against Tm toxicity. Addition of 9 mg DOC/L resulted in significantly increased LC50 values. This study contributes toward understanding the toxicity of Tm and the importance of considering dissolved organic matter in estimating the potential for environmental risk of REEs.

The primary goal of the present study is to provide a broad view of best practices for evaluating bioavailability models for metals for use in the protection of aquatic life. We describe the state of the science regarding 1) the evaluation and selection of ecotoxicity data, 2) the selection of bioavailability models for use in normalization, and 3) subsequent application of bioavailability models. Although many examples of normalization steps exist worldwide, a scheme is proposed to evaluate and select a model that takes account of its representativeness (water chemistry and taxonomic coverage of the ecotoxicity data set) and validation performance. Important considerations for a suitable model are the quantity of inputs needed, accuracy, and ease of use, all of which are needed to set protective values for aquatic life and to use these values to evaluate potential risks to organisms in receiving waters. Although the end results of different model application approaches may be broadly similar, the differences in these application frameworks ultimately come down to a series of trade-offs between who needs to collect the data and use the bioavailability model, the different requirements of spatial scales involved (e.g., regional vs site-specific values), and model predictiveness and protectiveness. Ultimately, understanding the limits and consequences of these trade-offs allows for selection of the most appropriate model and application framework to best provide the intended levels of aquatic life protection. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;39:118-130. © 2019 SETAC.

The potential for Ni toxicity in seawater is of concern because of mining and processing activities in coastal regions. Determining Ni speciation is vital to understanding and predicting Ni toxicity and for bioavailability-based nickel risk assessment. The goal of this study was to characterize the complexation of Ni in relation to toxicity using embryological development of purple sea urchin (S. purpuratus). It was predicted that free ion [Ni2+] would be a better predictor of toxicity than total dissolved Ni concentrations (NiD). Synthetic ligands with known logKf values (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), tryptophan (TRP), glutamic acid (GA), histidine (HD), and citric acid (CA)) were used to test the assumptions of the biotic ligand model (BLM) for Ni in seawater. [NiD] was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) and Ni2+ was first quantified using the ion-exchange technique (IET) and then concentrations were measured by GFAAS; [Ni2+] was also estimated using aquatic geochemistry modelling software (Visual Minteq). The mean EC50 values for [NiD] in unmodified artificial seawater control was 3.6 µM (95% CI 3.0–4.5) [211 µg/L 95% CI 176–264] and the addition of ligands provided protection, up to 6.5-fold higher [NiD] EC50 for EDTA. Compared to the control, measured EC50 values based on total dissolved nickel were higher in the presence of ligands. As predicted by BLM theory, [Ni2+] was a better predictor of Ni toxicity with 17% variability in EDTA and CA media while there was 72% variability in the prediction of Ni toxicity with total dissolved Ni. The results of this research provide support for the application of BLM- based prediction models for estimating Ni impacts in seawater.

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is known to ameliorate the toxicity of the trace metal nickel (Ni) to aquatic animals. In theory, this effect is mediated by the capacity of DOC to bind Ni, rendering it less bioavailable, with the resulting reduction in accumulation limiting toxicological effects. However, there is a lack of experimental data examining Ni accumulation in marine settings with natural sources of DOC. In the current study, radiolabelled Ni was used to examine the time- and concentration-dependence of Ni accumulation, using naturally sourced DOC, on developing larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Contrary to prediction, the two tested natural DOC samples (collected from the eastern United States, DOC 2 (Seaview park, Rhode Island (SVP)) and DOC 7 (Aubudon Coastal Center, Connecticut)) which had previously been shown to protect against Ni toxicity, did not limit accumulation. The control (artificial seawater with no added DOC), and the DOC 2 sample could mostly be described as having saturable Ni uptake, whereas Ni uptake in the presence of DOC 7 was mostly linear. These data provide evidence that DOC modifies the bioavailability of Ni, through either indirect effects (e.g. membrane permeability) or by the absorption of DOC-Ni complexes. There was some evidence for regulation of Ni accumulation in later-stage embryos (96-h) where the bioconcentration factor for Ni declined with increasing Ni exposure concentration. These data have implications for predictive modelling approaches that rely on known relationships between Ni speciation, bioavailability and bioreactivity, by suggesting that these relationships may not hold for natural marine DOC samples in the developing sea urchin model system.

Nickel (Ni) emissions resulting from production and transportation raise concerns about the impact of Ni exposure to marine ecosystems. Ni bioavailability models are established for FW systems, but the influence of chemical parameters (e.g. dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) on Ni toxicity within marine systems is less well understood. To examine the effects of DOC concentration and composition on Ni toxicity, acute toxicity tests were conducted on early life-stages of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and sea urchin embryos (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) in full strength sea water (32 ppt). Nine different field collected samples of water with varying concentration (up to 4.5 mg C/L) and composition of DOC were collected from the east coast of the United States. Organic matter compositional analysis included molecular fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy. The different DOC sources had different protective effects against embryo toxicity. The control (no DOC) Ni 48 h-EC50 for Mytilus embryos was 133 µg/L (95% confidence interval (C.I.) of 123–144 µg/L), while Strongylocentrotus embryos displayed control 96-h EC50 values of 207 µg/L (167–247 µg/L). The most significantly protective sample had high humic acid concentrations (as determined from fluorescence spectroscopy), which yielded an EC50 of 195 µg/L (169–222 µg/L) for Mytilus, and an EC50 of 394 µg/L (369–419 µg/L) for S. purpuratus. Among all samples, protection was related to both DOC quantity and quality, with fluorescence-resolved humic and fulvic acid concentrations showing the strongest correlations with protection for both species. These data suggest that DOC is protective against Ni toxicity in M. edulis and S. purpuratus, and that accounting for a DOC quality factor will improve predictive toxicity models such as the biotic ligand model.

Speciation of copper in marine systems strongly influences the ability of copper to cause toxicity. Natural organic matter (NOM) contains many binding sites which provides a protective effect on copper toxicity. The purpose of this study was to characterize copper binding with NOM using fluorescence quenching techniques. Fluorescence quenching of NOM with copper was performed on nine sea water samples. The resulting stability constants and binding capacities were consistent with literature values of marine NOM, showing strong binding with $$\log K$$ values from 7.64 to 10.2 and binding capacities ranging from 15 to 3110 nmol mg $${\text {C}}^{-1}.$$ Free copper concentrations estimated at total dissolved copper concentrations corresponding to previously published rotifer effect concentrations, in the same nine samples, were statistically the same as the range of free copper calculated for the effect concentration in NOM-free artificial seawater. These data confirms the applicability of fluorescence spectroscopy techniques for NOM and copper speciation characterization in sea water and demonstrates that such measured speciation is consistent with the chemical principles underlying the biotic ligand model approach for bioavailability-based metals risk assessment.

Reductions in atmospheric emissions from the metal smelters in Sudbury, Canada, produced major improvements in acid and metal contamination of local lakes and indirectly increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Metal toxicity, however, has remained a persistent problem for aquatic biota. Integrating high-throughput, nontargeted mass spectrometry metabolomics with conventional toxicological measures elucidated the mediating effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the toxicity of Cu to Daphnia pulex-pulicaria, a hybrid isolated from these soft water lakes. Two generations of daphniids were exposed to Cu (0-20 μg/L) at increasing levels of natural DOM (0-4 mg DOC/L). Added DOM reduced Cu toxicity monotonically with median lethal concentration values increasing from 2.3 μg/L Cu without DOM to 22.7 μg/L Cu at 4 mg DOC/L. Reproductive output similarly benefited, increasing with DOM, yet falling with increases in Cu. Second generation reproduction was more impaired than the first generation. Dissolved organic matter had a greater influence than Cu on the metabolic status of the daphniids. Putative identification of metabolite peaks indicated that DOM elevation increased the metabolic energy status of the first generation animals, but this benefit was reduced in the second generation, although evidence of increased oxidative stress was detected. These results indicate that Sudbury's terrestrial ecosystems should be managed to increase aquatic DOM supply to enable daphniid colonists to both survive and foster stable populations.

Cadmium is an endocrine disruptor and inhibits corticosteroid production, but the mechanisms are far from clear. We tested the hypothesis that sublethal exposure to environmentally realistic levels of cadmium impairs cortisol production by disrupting the melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) signaling in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium (0.75 or 2.0 μg/L) in a flow-through system for 7 d and subjected to an acute secondary stressor to evoke a cortisol response. Cadmium exposure for 7 d did not affect plasma cortisol concentrations, but head kidney mc2r mRNA levels were higher than in control fish. The cortisol stress performance to a secondary-stressor was attenuated in the cadmium groups, and this corresponded with transient reduction in transcript abundance of mc2r and the gene encoding its accessory protein MRAP1 but not MRAP2 in the head kidney. Furthermore, in vivo cadmium exposure attenuated the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-, but not 8-br-cAMP-stimulated cortisol production in head kidney slices ex vivo. This corresponded with reduced transcript abundance of mc2r and mrap1, but not mrap2 in these tissue slices. Also, reporter assays with CHO cells transiently transfected with rainbow trout mc2r and zebrafish mrap1 revealed a dose-independent inhibition in ACTH-stimulated luciferase activity by cadmium. Collectively, waterborne exposure to environmentally realistic concentration of cadmium compromises the stressor-induced cortisol response, and a mode of action involves the disruption of MC2R signaling in rainbow trout.

Acute copper (Cu) toxicity tests (48-h LC50) using the euryhaline rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were performed to assess the effects of salinity (3, 16, 30 ppt) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC, ∼ 1.1, ∼ 3.1, ∼ 4.9, ∼ 13.6 mg C L(-1)) on Cu bioavailability. Total Cu was measured using anodic stripping voltammetry, and free Cu(2+) was measured using ion-selective electrodes. There was a protective effect of salinity observed in all but the highest DOC concentrations; at all other DOC concentrations the LC50 value was significantly higher at 30 ppt than at 3 ppt. At all salinities, DOC complexation significantly reduced Cu toxicity. At higher concentrations of DOC the protective effect increased, but the increase was less than expected from a linear extrapolation of the trend observed at lower concentrations, and the deviation from linearity was greatest at the highest salinity. Light-scattering data indicated that salt induced colloid formation of DOC could be occurring under these conditions, thereby decreasing the number of available reactive sites to complex Cu. When measurements of free Cu across DOC concentrations at each individual salinity were compared, values were very similar, even though the total Cu LC50 values and DOC concentrations varied considerably. Furthermore, measured free Cu values and predicted model values were comparable, highlighting the important link between the concentration of bioavailable free Cu and Cu toxicity.

The physiological responses to waterborne cadmium exposure have been well documented; however, few studies have examined animal performances at low exposure concentrations of this metal. We tested the hypothesis that longer-term exposure to low levels of cadmium will compromise the steroidogenic and metabolic capacities, and reduce the cortisol response to a secondary stressor in fish. To test this, juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to 0 (control), 0.75 or 2.0 μg/L waterborne cadmium in a flow-through system and were sampled at 1, 7 and 28 d of exposure. There were only very slight disturbances in basal plasma cortisol, lactate or glucose levels in response to cadmium exposure over the 28 d period. Chronic cadmium exposure significantly affected key genes involved in corticosteroidogenesis, including melanocortin 2 receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme. At 28 d, the high cadmium exposure group showed a significant drop in the glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor protein expressions in the liver and brain, respectively. There were also perturbations in the metabolic capacities in the liver and gill of cadmium-exposed trout. Subjecting these fish to a secondary handling disturbance led to a significant attenuation of the stressor-induced plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate levels in the cadmium groups. Collectively, although trout appears to adjust to subchronic exposure to low levels of cadmium, it may be at the cost of impaired interrenal steroidogenic and tissue-specific metabolic capacities, leading to a compromised secondary stress performance in rainbow trout.

The recovery of lakes from severe, historical acid and metal pollution requires that colonists of extirpated species arrive, survive and subsequently thrive. We employed 40 year records from weekly to monthly crustacean zooplankton samples from Middle and Clearwater lakes near Sudbury, Canada, to identify the main mechanistic bottlenecks in this recovery process. While both lakes now have circum-neutral pH, acidity decreased more rapidly in Middle Lake because of past liming interventions, while Clearwater Lake, being larger and supporting more housing, likely receives more zooplankton colonists than Middle Lake. Community richness increased much faster in Middle Lake than in Clearwater Lake, at 1.6 vs 0.9 species decade-1, respectively. Richness has recovered in Middle Lake, when assessed against a target of 9-16 species collection-1 determined from regional reference lakes, but it has not yet recovered in Clearwater Lake. Species accumulation curves and a metric of annual persistence show that this difference is a product not of greater rates of species introduction into Middle Lake, but rather to their greater annual persistence once introduced. Greater annual persistence was associated with better habitat quality (i.e., lower acid and metal toxicity) in Middle Lake, particularly early in the record, and lower planktivore abundance, more recently. These results support a growing consensus that ecological recovery of zooplankton from acidification and metal pollution does not depend strongly on propagule introduction rates which are adequate, but rather on propagule persistence, in lake-rich, suburban landscapes such as those near Sudbury.

Using a 30-year record of biological and water chemistry data collected from seven lakes near smelters in Sudbury (Ontario, Canada) we examined the link between reductions of Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations and zooplankton species richness. The toxicity of the metal mixtures was assessed using an additive Toxic Unit (TU) approach. Four TU models were developed based on total metal concentrations (TM-TU); free ion concentrations (FI-TU); acute LC50s calculated from the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM-TU); and chronic LC50s (acute LC50s adjusted by metal-specific acute-to-chronic ratios, cBLM-TU). All models significantly correlated reductions in metal concentrations to increased zooplankton species richness over time (p0.01) with a rank based on r(2) values of cBLM-TUBLM-TU = FI-TUTM-TU. Lake-wise comparisons within each model showed that the BLM-TU and cBLM-TU models provided the best description of recovery across all seven lakes. These two models were used to calculate thresholds for chemical and biological recovery using data from reference lakes in the same region. A threshold value of TU = 1 derived from the cBLM-TU provided the most accurate description of recovery. Overall, BLM-based TU models that integrate site-specific water chemistry-derived estimates of toxicity offer a useful predictor of biological recovery.

Copper-induced toxicity in aqueous systems depends on its speciation and bioavailability. Natural organic matter (NOM) and reduced sulphur species can complex copper, influencing speciation and decreasing bioavailability. NOM composition in estuaries can vary, depending on inputs of terrigenous, autochthonous, or wastewater source material. At a molecular level, variability in NOM quality potentially results in different extents of copper binding. The aims of this study were to measure acute copper EC(50) values in coastal marine and estuarine waters, and identify the relationships between total dissolved copper EC(50) values and measured water chemistry parameters proportional to NOM and reduced sulphur composition. This has implications on the development of marine-specific toxicity prediction models. NOM was characterised using dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and fluorescence measurements, combined with spectral resolution techniques, to quantify humic-, fulvic-, tryptophan-, and tyrosine-like fractions. Reduced sulphur was measured by the chromium-reducible sulphide (CRS) technique. Acute copper toxicity tests were performed on samples expressing extreme DOC, fluorescent terrigenous, autochthonous, and CRS concentrations. The results show significant differences in NOM quality, independent of DOC concentration. CRS is variable among the samples; concentrations ranging from 4 to 40 nM. The toxicity results suggest DOC as a very good predictive measure of copper EC(50) in estuaries (r(2)=0.87) independent of NOM quality. Furthermore, for filtered samples, CRS exists at concentrations that would be saturated with copper at measured EC(50), suggesting that while CRS might bind Cu and decrease bioavailability, it does not control copper speciation at toxicologically relevant concentrations and therefore is not a good predictive measure of copper toxicity in filtered samples.

Fluorescence characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and measurements of Cr-reducible sulfide (CRS) are presented for 72 coastal marine and estuarine water samples obtained from the USA and Canada. Each sample is identified according to source: terrigenous, autochthonous, wastewater or mixed. Fluorescence data are resolved into contributions from humic, fulvic, tyrosine and tryptophan-like fluorophores. Humic and fulvic-like fluorophores correlate well with dissolved organic C (DOC) ( r 2 = 0.73 and 0.71, respectively) but tyrosine and tryptophan-like fluorophores show no correlation with DOC. Quality factors are identified by normalization of fluorescence contributions to DOC. Humic and fulvic components show no statistical differences between sources but the amino acid-like fluorescence quality factors show significant variations between source, with highest values for autochthonous sources (0.07 ± 0.01 arbitrary fluorescence units per mg of C) versus low values (0.015 ± 0.005) for terrigenous source waters. CRS concentrations are highly variable from 0.07 ± 0.01 to 7703 ± 98 nM and do no correlate with DOC except when terrigenous source waters ( n = 13) are separated out from the total sample set ( r 2 = 0.55). There is an open question in the literature; does DOC source matter in terms of protective effects towards metal toxicity? Here is shown that DOC molecular-level quality does vary and that this variation is mostly in terms of the contributions of amino acids to total fluorescence.

As part of a SETAC Pellston Workshop, we evaluated the potential use of metal tissue residues for predicting effects in aquatic organisms. This evaluation included consideration of different conceptual models and then development of several case studies on how tissue residues might be applied for metals, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches. We further developed a new conceptual model in which metal tissue concentrations from metal-accumulating organisms (principally invertebrates) that are relatively insensitive to metal toxicity could be used as predictors of effects in metal-sensitive taxa that typically do not accumulate metals to a significant degree. Overall, we conclude that the use of tissue residue assessment for metals other than organometals has not led to the development of a generalized approach as in the case of organic substances. Species-specific and site-specific approaches have been developed for one or more metals (e.g., Ni). The use of gill tissue residues within the biotic ligand model is another successful application. Aquatic organisms contain a diverse array of homeostatic mechanisms that are both metal- and species-specific. As a result, use of whole-body measurements (and often specific organs) for metals does not lead to a defensible position regarding risk to the organism. Rather, we suggest that in the short term, with sufficient validation, species- and site-specific approaches for metals can be developed. In the longer term it may be possible to use metal-accumulating species to predict toxicity to metal-sensitive species with appropriate field validation.

The goal of this study was to develop a biotic ligand model (BLM) to predict the acute toxicity of cadmium to Daphnia pulex. Organisms were cultured in moderately soft water and standard 48h acute toxicity tests were used to determine EC50s in various water chemistries where the effects of Ca(2+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Cl(-), K(+), pH, and two sources of natural organic matter (Suwannee River and Nordic Reservoir) were evaluated. Overall, toxicity responses were consistent with the free-ion activity model and the principles inherent in the BLM. Increases in Ca(2+) resulted in higher EC50s, indicating that Cd(2+) competes with Ca(2+) for uptake at the biotic ligand. Similar cation competition effects were observed when Mg(2+) was varied but with a less pronounced protective effect relative to Ca(2+). Changes in Na(+) and K(+) concentrations had no significant effect on Cd toxicity. EC50 values did not change significantly when pH was adjusted over a range from 8.0 to 6.1. Additions of natural organic matter resulted in elevated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations that significantly reduced Cd bioavailability via complexation of Cd(2+). An existing biotic ligand model (HydroQual BLM ver 2.2.3) was tested for its ability to predict acute Cd toxicity to D. pulex. Once the BLM was adjusted for the relatively sensitivity of D. pulex the protective effects of Ca and DOC could be predicted reasonably well but other test chemistries did not match with measured EC50s. Binding constants derived from the test results (logK(CaBL) of 4.1, logK(MgBL) of 3.7, logK(HBL) of 6.1 and logK(CdBL) of 7.0) were used to develop a modified BLM for the effects of Cd on D. pulex that accounted for the moderating effect of Ca and Mg on acute toxicity but overestimated the protective effect of DOC.

Models such as the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) predict how natural organic matter (NOM) and competing ions (e.g., Ca(2+), H(+) and Na(+)) affect metal bioavailability and toxicity in aquatic organisms. However, such models focus upon individual metals, not metal mixtures. This study determined whether Pb and Cd interact at the gill of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) when trout were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of these metals (Cd

The development of chronic metal toxicity models for fresh water fish is complicated by the physiological adjustments made by the animal during exposure which results in acclimation. This study examines the influence of a pre-exposure to a chronic sublethal waterborne metal on acclimation responses as well as the uptake and distribution of new metal into juvenile rainbow trout. In one series of tests, trout were exposed to either 20 or 60 microg/L Cu, or 150 microg/L Zn for a month in moderately hard water and then cross-acclimation responses to Cd were measured in 96 h LC(50) tests. Cu exposed trout showed a cross-acclimation response but Zn exposed trout did not. Using these results, a detailed examination of Cd uptake and tissue distribution in metal-acclimated trout was done. Trout were exposed to either 75 microg/L Cu or 3 microg/L Cd for 1 month to induce acclimation and subsequently, the uptake and distribution of new Cd was assessed in both Cd- and Cu-acclimated fish using (109)Cd. The pattern of accumulation of new metal was dramatically altered in acclimated fish. For example, in 3 h gill Cd binding experiments, Cd- and Cu-acclimated trout both had a higher capacity to accumulate new Cd but only Cu-acclimated fish showed a higher affinity for Cd compared to unexposed controls. Experiments measuring Cd uptake over 72 h at 3 microgCd/L showed that the Cd uptake rate was lower for Cd-acclimated fish compared to both Cu-acclimated fish and unexposed controls. The results demonstrate the phenomenon of cross-acclimation to Cd and that chronic sublethal exposure to one metal can alter the uptake and tissue distribution of another. Understanding how acclimation influences toxicity and bioaccumulation is important in the context of risk assessment. This study illustrates that knowledge of previous exposure conditions is essential, not only for the metal of concern, but also for other metals as well.

This study investigates the effect of chronic Cd exposure on the ability to perform repeat swim challenges in brown trout (Salmo trutta) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). Fish were exposed to waterborne Cd (18nM) in moderately hard water (120mgL(-1) CaCO3) for 30 days. This level of exposure has been shown to cause sublethal physiological disruption and acclimation responses but no impairment of sustained swimming capacity (Ucrit) in single swim challenges. Swim trials were done over the course of the exposure and each one consisted of an initial swim to 85% of the Ucrit of control fish, a 30min recovery period and finally a second swim challenge to determine Ucrit. Plasma and tissue samples were collected before and after each of the swim periods. As expected from previous studies, Cd exposure resulted in significant accumulation of Cd in gills, liver and kidney but not in white muscle. Exposure also induced a loss of plasma Ca followed by subsequent recovery (in lake whitefish but not brown trout) with few mortalities (100% survival for lake whitefish and 93% for brown trout). Both control and exposed fish swam to 85% of the single swim Ucrit and no differences in performance were seen. The Ucrit of unexposed controls in the second swim challenges were not different from the single swim Ucrit. However, second swim performance was significantly reduced in Cd exposed fish, particularly after a week of exposure where 31% and 38% reductions were observed for brown trout and lake whitefish respectively. Swimming to 85% Ucrit resulted in metabolic expenditure with little recovery after 30min. Few differences were observed between control and Cd exposed fish with the exception of a reduction in resting white muscle ATP stores of Cd exposed fish after 1 week of exposure. The results show that chronic sublethal Cd exposure results in an impairment of swimming ability in repeat swim challenges but this impairment is generally not related to metabolic processes in white muscle.

Reductions in atmospheric emissions from the metal smelters in Sudbury, Canada, produced major improvements in acid and metal contamination of local lakes and indirectly increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Metal toxicity, however, has remained a persistent problem for aquatic biota. Integrating high-throughput, nontargeted mass spectrometry metabolomics with conventional toxicological measures elucidated the mediating effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the toxicity of Cu to Daphnia pulex-pulicaria, a hybrid isolated from these soft water lakes. Two generations of daphniids were exposed to Cu (0-20 μg/L) at increasing levels of natural DOM (0-4 mg DOC/L). Added DOM reduced Cu toxicity monotonically with median lethal concentration values increasing from 2.3 μg/L Cu without DOM to 22.7 μg/L Cu at 4 mg DOC/L. Reproductive output similarly benefited, increasing with DOM, yet falling with increases in Cu. Second generation reproduction was more impaired than the first generation. Dissolved organic matter had a greater influence than Cu on the metabolic status of the daphniids. Putative identification of metabolite peaks indicated that DOM elevation increased the metabolic energy status of the first generation animals, but this benefit was reduced in the second generation, although evidence of increased oxidative stress was detected. These results indicate that Sudbury's terrestrial ecosystems should be managed to increase aquatic DOM supply to enable daphniid colonists to both survive and foster stable populations.

This chapter describes approaches to environmental exposure assessments of metals and organic contaminants. The free ion activity model is an equilibrium-based geochemical speciation model to predict free metal ion concentrations, which are mainly associated with toxic effects. Biotic ligand models expand on this concept and predict the short-term binding of free ions to a biotic ligand, also based on equilibrium processes. Working either at equilibrium or in the kinetic phase, passive samplers are increasingly used to determine hydrophobic organic contaminants in the environment. Passive sampling techniques also exist for hydrophilic compounds and metals. The reserved concept of passive dosing can provide stable exposure concentrations in toxicity tests. Chemical monitoring in the context of the European Union Water Framework Directive or the Oslo–Paris Commission generates concentrations to be compared to toxicity-based environmental quality standards or assessment criteria. New analytical methods have been developed for the high quality trace analysis of organic compounds of emerging concern.

The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) are used as the criteria for bioaccumulation in the context of identifying and classifying substances that are hazardous to the aquatic environment. The BCF/BAF criteria, while developed as surrogates for chronic toxicity and/or biomagnification of anthropogenic organic substances, are applied to all substances including metals. This work examines the theoretical and experimental basis for the use of BCF/BAF in the hazard assessment of Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Ag. As well, BCF/BAFs for Hg (methyl and inorganic forms) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were evaluated. The BCF/BAF data for Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Ag were characterized by extreme variability in mean BCF/BAF values and a clear inverse relationship between BCF/BAF and aqueous exposure. The high variability persisted when even when data were limited to an exposure range where chronic toxicity would be expected. Mean BCF/BAF values for Hg were also variable, but the inverse relationship was equivocal, in contrast with HCB, which conformed to the BCF model. This study illustrates that the BCF/BAF criteria, as currently applied, are inappropriate for the hazard identification and classification of metals. Furthermore, using BCF and BAF data leads to conclusions that are inconsistent with the toxicological data, as values are highest (indicating hazard) at low exposure concentrations and are lowest (indicating no hazard) at high exposure concentrations, where impacts are likely. Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation factors do not distinguish between essential mineral nutrient, normal background metal bioaccumulation, the adaptive capabilities of animals to vary uptake and elimination within the spectrum of exposure regimes, nor the specific ability to sequester, detoxify, and store internalized metal from metal uptake that results in adverse effect. An alternative to BCF, the accumulation factor (ACF), for metals was assessed and, while providing an improvement, it did not provide a complete solution. A bioaccumulation criterion for the hazard identification of metals is required, and work directed at linking chronic toxicity and bioaccumulation may provide some solutions.

We examined the influence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the bioavailability of waterborne Cu to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during chronic sublethal exposure. Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to Cu (as CuSO(4)) and DOC as humic acid (HA, as sodium salt) for one month in synthetic soft water to give treatments with varying combinations of free ionic and HA complexed Cu. The total Cu concentration was 7 microg/l for all treatments (except controls) and HA was added at levels of 0, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/l which corresponded to DOC levels of 1.2, 2.2 and 4.0 mg/l. Fish grew well in all treatments and no mortalities occurred. Cu was highly bioavailable in the treatment with no added HA; gill and liver Cu accumulation occurred as well as a disruption of Na(+) regulation. In Cu treatments with additions of both 2.5 and 7.5 mg/l HA, there was no significant tissue accumulation of Cu. The addition of HA alleviated and delayed the disruption of iono-regulatory mechanisms. A recovery of plasma Na(+) losses was observed and this was associated with an increase in gill Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity by the end of the exposure. Following the month of chronic exposure the uptake and turnover rates of Cu at the gills and into various tissue compartments were measured through radioisotopic techniques ((64)Cu). While chronic Cu exposure did not result in acclimation (i.e. increased LC50), the uptake rate and extent of Cu uptake into the gills and liver was increased. This study demonstrates that growth and tissue accumulation of Cu are poor predictors of the chronic effects of Cu, and illustrates that HA moderates chronic Cu bioavailability. The lack of a link between Cu bioaccumulation and Cu impact and the role of organic matter in reducing the bioavailability of Cu are important considerations in the context of ecological risk assessment.

During recent years, the biotic ligand model (BLM) has been proposed as a tool to evaluate quantitatively the manner in which water chemistry affects the speciation and biological availability of metals in aquatic systems. This is an important consideration because it is the bioavailability and bioreactivity of metals that control their potential to cause adverse effects. The BLM approach has gained widespread interest amongst the scientific, regulated and regulatory communities because of its potential for use in developing water quality criteria (WQC) and in performing aquatic risk assessments for metals. Specifically, the BLM does this in a way that considers the important influences of site-specific water quality. This journal issue includes papers that describe recent advances with regard to the development of the BLM approach. Here, the current status of the BLM development effort is described in the context of the longer-term history of advances in the understanding of metal interactions in the environment upon which the BLM is based. Early developments in the aquatic chemistry of metals, the physiology of aquatic organisms and aquatic toxicology are reviewed first, and the degree to which each of these disciplines influenced the development of water quality regulations is discussed. The early scientific advances that took place in each of these fields were not well coordinated, making it difficult for regulatory authorities to take full advantage of the potential utility of what had been learned. However, this has now changed, with the BLM serving as a useful interface amongst these scientific disciplines, and within the regulatory arena as well. The more recent events that have led to the present situation are reviewed, and consideration is given to some of the future needs and developments related to the BLM that are envisioned. The research results that are described in the papers found in this journal issue represent a distinct milestone in the ongoing evolution of the BLM approach and, more generally, of approaches to performing ecological assessments for metals in aquatic systems. These papers also establish a benchmark to which future scientific and regulatory developments can be compared. Finally, they demonstrate the importance and usefulness of the concept of bioavailability and of evaluative tools such as the BLM.

Environmental context The increased use of nanomaterials in industrial and consumer products requires robust strategies to identify risks when they are released into the environment. Aquatic toxicologists are beginning to possess a clearer understanding of the chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials in solution, and which of the properties potentially affect the health of aquatic organisms. This review highlights the main challenges encountered in aquatic nanotoxicity testing, provides recommendations for overcoming these challenges, and discusses recent studies that have advanced our understanding of the toxicity of three important OECD nanomaterials, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and silver nanomaterials. Abstract Aquatic nanotoxicologists and ecotoxicologists have begun to identify the unique properties of the nanomaterials (NMs) that potentially affect the health of wildlife. In this review the scientific aims are to discuss the main challenges nanotoxicologists currently face in aquatic toxicity testing, including the transformations of NMs in aquatic test media (dissolution, aggregation and small molecule interactions), and modes of NM interference (optical interference, adsorption to assay components and generation of reactive oxygen species) on common toxicity assays. Three of the major OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) priority materials, titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) NMs, studied recently by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Nanotechnology Initiative (NNBNI), a Canadian consortium, have been identified to cause both bulk effect, dissolution-based (i.e. free metal), or NM-specific toxicity in aquatic organisms. TiO2 NMs are most toxic to algae, with toxicity being NM size-dependent and principally associated with binding of the materials to the organism. Conversely, dissolution of Zn and Ag NMs and the subsequent release of their ionic metal counterparts appear to represent the primary mode of toxicity to aquatic organisms for these NMs. In recent years, our understanding of the toxicological properties of these specific OECD relevant materials has increased significantly. Specifically, researchers have begun to alter their experimental design to identify the different behaviour of these materials as colloids and, by introducing appropriate controls and NM characterisation, aquatic nanotoxicologists are now beginning to possess a clearer understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these materials in solution, and how these materials may interact with organisms. Arming nanotoxicologists with this understanding, combined with knowledge of the physics, chemistry and biology of these materials is essential for maintaining the accuracy of all future toxicological assessments.

Silver was biologically incorporated into a diet by exposing rainbow trout for 7 days to 100 mg/l of waterborne silver as silver thiosulphate. These fish were processed into a fine powder (trout meal) and pelleted to form a nutritionally balanced feed which was then fed to juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were fed either a diet containing 3.1 microg/g biologically incorporated silver (an environmentally relevant concentration), or one of three control diets containing approximately 0.05 microg/g Ag for 128 days. All dietary treatments were fed to satiation once daily. Dietary silver did not significantly affect mortality, growth, food consumption, or food conversion efficiency. Furthermore, ion regulation (plasma Na(+) levels and Na(+) influx rates), hematological parameters (hematocrit, plasma protein, hemoglobin levels), plasma glucose, metabolism (oxygen consumption, ammonia and urea excretion rates) and intestinal Na/K-ATPase and amylase activities were all unaffected. Based on the physiological parameters investigated here, this dietary silver exposure appeared to be physiologically benign to rainbow trout. However, silver concentrations in the livers of the silver-fed fish were significantly elevated at day 16, and reached a steady-state level of approximately 20 microg/g Ag by day 36. The concentration specific accumulation rate in the livers of fish fed biologically incorporated silver was about 4.6 orders of magnitude greater than when fed dietary silver sulfide, indicating much greater bioavailability. Despite this increase, hepatic metallothionein concentrations remained unchanged, in contrast to waterborne exposures, indicating that bioaccumulated silver behaves differently depending on whether it is taken up from the diet or from the water. Apart from a significant reduction in hepatic Cu at day 16, liver concentrations of Cu and Zn were not affected by dietary silver. Silver concentrations were also significantly elevated (relative to control fish) in the kidneys of the silver-treated fish on days 88 and 126, and in the gills and plasma at day 126.

New regulatory approaches to metal toxicity (e.g., biotic ligand model [BLM]) focus on gill metal binding and tissue-specific accumulation of waterborne metals; the dietary route of exposure and dietary/waterborne interactions are not considered, nor are the consequences of chronic exposure by either route. Therefore, we studied the effect of the same gill Cd load (approximately 2.5 microg/g), achieved by a chronic, 30-d exposure to Cd either via the diet (1,500 mg/kg) or the water (2 microg/L), on tissue-specific Cd distribution and subsequent uptake of waterborne Cd in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). These two exposure regimes resulted in a branchial Cd load that had been taken up across either apical gill membranes (waterborne Cd) or basolateral gill membranes (through the bloodstream for dietary Cd). The BLM characteristics of the gills (i.e., short-term Cd uptake kinetics) were altered: affinity (log K(Cd Gill) [95% confidence level]) decreased from 7.05 (6.75-8.76) for control to 6.54 (6.32-7.03) for waterborne Cd and 5.92 (5.83-6.51) for dietary Cd, whereas binding capacity (Bmax) increased from 3.12 (2.14-4.09) to 4.80 (3.16-6.43) and 5.50 (2.86-8.17) nmol x g(-1) for control, waterborne, and dietary Cd, respectively. Fish exposed to dietary Cd accumulated a much greater overall chronic Cd body burden relative to fish exposed to waterborne Cd or control fish. The carcass accumulated the greatest percentage of total body Cd in control and waterborne-exposed fish, whereas the intestinal tissue accumulated the greatest percentage in dietary-exposed fish. Tissue-specific Cd burdens were highest in the kidney in both dietary and waterborne treatments. We conclude that chronic Cd exposure alters Cd uptake dynamics, and that the route of Cd exposure, whether waterborne or dietary, results in differences of internal Cd accumulation and branchial Cd uptake characteristics. These factors should be considered in future BLM development.

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss [Walbaum]) on 1% daily ration were exposed to 0 (control) or 2 μg of cadmium as Cd(NO3)2·4H2O per liter added to four different calcium (Ca) concentrations: 260 (background), 470 (low), 770 (medium), or 1200 (high) μM of Ca added as Ca(NO3)2·4H2O in synthetic soft water for 30 d. Mortality was highest (∼80%) in the background + Cd treatment. Approximately 40% mortality was observed in the low + Cd exposure; mortality was 10% or less for all other treatments. No growth effects were seen for any of the exposures. Kidneys accumulated the greatest concentration of Cd during the 30 d, followed by gills and livers. Accumulation of Cd in gills, kidney, and liver decreased at higher water Ca concentrations. No differences in whole-body or plasma Ca concentrations were found. Swimming performance was impaired in the low + Cd-exposed fish. Influx of Ca2+ into whole bodies decreased as water Ca concentrations increased; influx of Ca2+ into background + Cd-treated fish was significantly reduced compared to that in control fish. Experiments that measured uptake of new Cd into gills showed that the affinity of gills for Cd (KCd-gill) and the number of binding sites for Cd decreased as water Ca concentrations increased. Acute accumulation of new Cd into gills and number of gill Cd-binding sites increased with chronic Cd exposure, whereas the affinity of gills for Cd decreased with chronic Cd exposure. Longer-term gill binding (72 h) showed reduced uptake of new Cd at higher water Ca levels and increased uptake with chronic Cd exposure. Complications were found in applying the biotic ligand model to fish that were chronically exposed to Cd because of discrepancies in the maximum number of gill Cd-binding sites among different studies.

The objectives of the study were to determine the physiological and toxicological effects of chronic cadmium exposure on juvenile rainbow trout in soft water. Particular attention focused on acclimation, on comparison to an earlier hard water study, and on whether a gill surface binding model, originally developed in dilute soft water, could be applied in this water quality to fish chronically exposed to Cd. Juvenile rainbow trout, on 3% of body weight daily ration, were exposed to 0 (control), 0.07, and 0.11 microg l(-1) Cd [as Cd(NO(3))(2).4H(2)O] in synthetic soft water (hardness=20 mg l(-1) as CaCO(3), alkalinity=15 mg l(-1) as CaCO(3), pH 7.2) for 30 days. Mortality was minimal for all treatments (up to 14% for 0.11 microg l(-1) Cd). No significant effects of chronic Cd exposure were seen in growth rate, swimming performance (stamina), routine O(2) consumption, or whole body/plasma ion levels. In contrast to the hard water study, no acclimation occurred in either exposure group in soft water, with no significant increases in 96-h LC(50) values. Cadmium accumulated in a time-dependent fashion to twice the control levels in the gills and only marginally in the liver by 30 days. No significant Cd accumulation occurred in the gall bladder or whole body. Cadmium uptake/turnover tests were run using radioactive 109Cd for acute (3 h) exposures. Saturation of the gills occurred for control fish but not for Cd-exposed fish when exposed to up to 36 microg l(-1) Cd for 3 h. Cd-exposed trout accumulated less 'new' Cd in their gills compared to controls and they internalized less 109Cd than control fish. This effect of lowered Cd uptake by the gills of acclimated trout was earlier seen for the fish acclimated to 10 microg l(-1) Cd in hard water. The affinity of the gill for Cd was greater in hard water (logK(Cd-gill)=7.6) than in soft water (logK(Cd-gill)=7.3) but the number of binding sites (B(max)=0.20 microg g(-1) gill) was similar in both media. In addition, there was a shift in affinity of the gill for Cd (i.e. lowered logK(Cd-gill)) and increased B(max) with chronic Cd exposure in both soft water and hard water. We conclude that the present gill modelling approach (i.e. acute gill surface binding model or Biotic Ligand Model) does work for soft and hard water exposures but there are complications when applying the model to fish chronically exposed to cadmium.

An early silver−gill binding model using conditional equilibrium binding constants (K) was fitted to actual toxicity data for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and subsequently modified to produce a mechanistically based acute toxicity model for predicting silver toxicity. The model used an “off the shelf” aquatic geochemistry software program (MINEQL+) and physiologically based log K values to predict the acute effects of waterborne silver in rainbow trout. The final version of the model does not predict total gill−silver loading, as the early model did, but rather predicts the binding of Ag+ to key toxic sites on the gill and incorporates the effects of cation competition at these sites. The acute toxicity model for Ag+ provided the best fit to toxicity data when a log K value for the affinity of these sites was 7.6 with cationic competition log K values for Na+ and Ca2+ of 2.9 and 2.3, respectively. A log K for Ag−DOM of 9.0 was used representing strong Ag+ binding to dissolved organic matter. The mo...

Juvenile rainbow trout, on 3% of body weight daily ration, were exposed to 0 (control), 3, and 10 μg l −1 Cd (as Cd(NO 3 ) 2 · 4H 2 O) in moderately hard (140 mg l −1 as CaCO 3 ), alkaline (95 mg l −1 as CaCO 3 , pH 8.0) water for 30 days. Particular attention focused on acclimation, and on whether a gill surface binding model, originally developed in dilute softwater, could be applied in this water quality to fish chronically exposed to Cd. Only the higher Cd concentration caused mortality (30%, in the first few days). The costs of acclimation, if any, in our study were subtle since no significant effects of chronic Cd exposure were seen in growth rate, swimming performance (stamina and U Crit ), routine O 2 consumption, or whole body ion levels. Substantial acclimation occurred in both exposure groups, manifested as 11- to 13-fold increases in 96-h LC 50 values. In water quality regulations, which are based on toxicity tests with non-acclimated fish only, this remarkable protective effect of acclimation is not taken into account. Cd accumulated in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion to 60–120× (gills), 8–20× (liver), 2–7× (carcass), and 5–12× (whole bodies) control levels by 30 days. Chronically accumulated gill Cd could not be removed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) challenge. These gill Cd concentrations were 20- to 40-fold greater than levels predicted by the gill-binding model to cause mortality during acute exposure. In short-term gill Cd-binding experiments (up to 70 μg l −1 exposures for 3 h), gill Cd burden increased as predicted in control fish, but was not detectable against the high background concentrations in acclimated fish. In light of these results, Cd uptake/turnover tests were performed using radioactive 109 Cd to improve sensitivity. With this approach, a small saturable binding component was seen, but could not be related to toxic response in acclimated fish. Acclimated trout internalized less 109 Cd than control fish, but interpretation was complicated by the possibility of radioisotopic exchange and specific activity dilution in the large `cold' Cd pool on the gills. We conclude that gill Cd burden is not predictive of mortality in acclimated fish, that the present gill modelling approach does not work in acclimated fish, and that longer term 109 Cd turnover studies are needed for this purpose.

Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to zinc in both moderately hard water and soft water for 30 d. Only the 450 {micro}g/L zinc-exposed fish experienced significant mortality. Zinc exposure caused no effect on growth rate, but growth affected tissue zinc levels. Whole body zinc levels were elevated, but gill sand liver showed no consistent increases relative to controls over the 30 d. Therefore, tissue zinc residues were not a good indicator of chronic zinc exposure. After the 30-d exposure, physiological function tests were performed. Zinc was 5.4 times more toxic in soft water. All zinc-exposed trout had acclimated to the metal, as seen by an increase in the LC50 of 2.2 to 3.9 times over that seen in control fish. Physiological costs related to acclimation appeared to be few. Zinc exposure had no effect on whole body Ca{sup 2+} or Na{sup +} levels, on resting or routine metabolic rates, or on fixed velocity sprint performance. However, critical swimming speed (U{sub Crit}) was significantly reduced in zinc-exposed fish, an effect that persisted in zinc-free water. Using radioisotopic techniques to distinguish new zinc incorporation, the gills were found to possess two zinc pools: a fast turnover pool and a slow turnover pool.more » The fast pool was much larger in soft water than in hard water, but at most it accounted for < 3.5% of the zinc content of the gills. The size of the slow pool was unknown, but its loading rate was faster in soft water. Chronic zinc exposure was found to increase the size of the fast pool and to increase the loading rate of the slow pool.« less

The importance of water Cl- concentration in mitigating the effects of sublethal waterborne AgNO3 exposure on rainbow trout was studied to test the relationship between physiological response and concentration of ionic silver (Ag+). Trout were exposed to a total silver concentration of 30 nmol·L-1 (as AgNO3) at a range of different water Cl- concentrations from 20 to 1500 µmol·L-1. These levels were chosen by speciation modelling with MINEQL+ to progressively reduce the concentration of Ag+ largely by replacement with dissolved AgClaq. Fish exposed to AgNO3 experienced a loss of Na+; increasing the water Cl- concentration reduced these losses. In vitro measurements after 50 h of exposure showed that Na+ losses were related to Ag+-induced inhibition of gill Na+/K+ ATPase activity; increasing the concentration of Cl- in the water protected against the inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase activity. The disruption of Na+ regulation in AgNO3-exposed fish was accompanied by increased plasma cortisol and total ammonia concentrations, but blood pH, plasma PCO2 and HCO3-, and hematocrit were, in general, unaltered. Gill silver content increased in all AgNO3-exposed trout and was not correlated with the disruption of Na+ balance. We conclude that physiological measurements in combination with aquatic geochemical equilibrium modelling are useful in developing models to predict the acute toxicity of waterborne silver.

Rainbow trout exposed to unbuffered water of pH 10.5 initially showed significant increases in blood pH, plasma cortisol and glucose, partial pressure of NH3 (PNH3), NH4+, and HCO3- values as well as loss of plasma Cl-, reduced partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2), and inhibition of total ammonia excretion rate. After the first day, fish resisted further change, and new levels were established (for blood pH and plasma PCO2 and PNH3 levels) or imbalances corrected, either partially (for total ammonia excretion) or completely (for plasma Cl-, HCO3-, cortisol, and glucose values). During the 7-d exposure, 80% of fish in unbuffered water survived, but in buffered water (0.75 mmol L(-1) glycine-buffered KOH at pH 10.5), survival was only 50% after 3 d, and ion regulatory failure was evident. Fish in buffered and unbuffered alkaline waters had similar total ammonia excretion rates, which suggests that glycine-buffered KOH was not sufficient to significantly reduce gill boundary layer acidification. After 7 d in unbuffered alkaline water, 30% of total ammonia excretion was linked with an amiloride-sensitive (0.1 mmol L(-1)) Na+ uptake mechanism. Treatment of alkaline-exposed trout with waterborne acetazolamide (1.5 mmol L(-1)) indicated that gill boundary layer H+ production, through hydration of CO2, had a role in excretion of total ammonia. Exposure to 4-acetamino-4'-isothiocyantostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS; 0.1 mmol L(-1)) following 24-h exposure to unbuffered alkaline water resulted in increased plasma HCO3- and lowered plasma Cl- concentrations, indicating the role of branchial Cl-/HCO3- exchange in regaining Cl- lost and eliminating the HCO3- accumulated during exposure to alkaline water.

The Lahontan cutthroat trout lives under highly alkaline and saline conditions in Pyramid Lake, Nevada (pH 9.4; 0.2 mmol 1−1 Ca++; 7.3 mmol 1−1 Mg++). These experiments were conducted to study the possible roles of water Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations on ammonia excretion in the Lahontan cutthroat trout under highly alkaline conditions. The basic protocol of the experiments was to determine ammonia excretion rates during the following three exposure periods (each of 3-h duration) in sequence: (a) in normal lake water; (b) in soft lake water with the divalent cation concentrations reduced; and (c) in the soft lake water with either Ca++ or Mg++ (or no divalent cations added) added back at the appropriate lake water concentration. The soft-water exposure caused a significant reduction in ammonia excretion to about half of the control (original lake water) levels. When either Ca++ or Mg++ was added to the soft water in the third exposure period, the ammonia excretion rates were increased more than twofold back to lake water levels.

Environmental context A Cu ion-selective electrode is potentially an excellent tool for cupric ion measurements in salt water, but it is prone to poor reproducibility. We show that dramatic improvements can be obtained by using a Cu ion-selective electrode and a one-point calibration method that corrects for electrode fouling. The method shows promise to be used to collect data on toxic cupric ion concentrations in saltwater environments. Abstract Free Cu is often used as an indicator for potential Cu toxicity. Free ionic Cu2+ was measured using a flow-through ion-selective electrode (ISE). Four different marine samples were collected from various locations and analysed during a fixed-pH Cu titration using an external standard calibration ISE method. Free cupric determinations in the range 10–12 to 10–7molL–1 were consistent with published literature but replicate measures showed up to four orders of magnitude variability. To improve reproducibility, an internal calibration method was developed. The new method was validated using artificial seawater with added tryptophan as the model ligand. The free Cu measured using the improved method showed the same trends as the external calibration data but reproducibility increased to an order of magnitude or better. The potential applicability of this new method was also highlighted in that it matches, in the environmentally and regulatory significant range of total Cu, with a fluorescence quenching method applied to one of the four samples. The ISE data do not agree with free ion concentrations estimated from anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) though. This suggests that, at least for these samples, ASV responded to a larger fraction of total Cu than simply the inorganic complexes. Caution should be exercised when using ASV as a proxy for bioavailability because the trends in ASV-derived free Cu did not match the free Cu as estimated by ISE. This ability to more reliably measure free Cu is significant for predicting and measuring toxicity on Cu exposure.

In this study, we examined the ammonia and urea excretion rates in four species of fish native to Pyramid Lake, Nevada (pH 9.4): tui chub Gila bicolor, Tahoe sucker Catostomus tahoensis, Lahontan cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi, and cui-ui Chasmistes cujus. The activities of liver enzymes associated with the ornithine urea cycle and uricolysis were also measured in all but cui-ui. As in other teleost fish, most of the nitrogen was excreted as ammonia. Ammonia excretion rates ranged from 48 to 342 μmol N·kg−1·h−1. Urea excretion rates varied from 17 to 139 μmol N·kg−1·h−1. The proportion of nitrogenous waste excreted by fish as urea in the alkaline Pyramid Lake water was greater than by fish in neutral water; however, ornithine urea cycle enzyme activities, with the exception of arginase (range, 5.2–41.0 μmol·g−1·min−1), were relatively low. All three of the uricolytic enzymes were present in significant activities. Therefore, it seems that urea is produced in these fish by uricolysis...

The present study examined the effect of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), both added and inherent, on Cu toxicity in glochidia, the larvae of freshwater mussels. Using incremental additions of natural DOC concentrate and reconstituted water, a series of acute copper toxicity tests were conducted. An increase in DOC from 0.7 to 4.4 mg C/L resulted in a fourfold increase (36 150 mg Cu/L) in the 24 h median effective concentration (EC50) and a significant linear relationship (r 2 0.98, p 0.0008) between the DOC concentration and the Cu EC50 of Lampsilis siliquoidea glochidia. The ameliorating effect of added DOC on Cu toxicity was confirmed using a second mussel species, the endangered (in Canada)Lampsilisfasciola. The effect of inherent (i.e., not added) DOC on Cu toxicity was also assessed in eight natural waters (DOC 5 15 mg C/L). These experiments revealed a significant relationship between the EC50 and the concentration of inherent DOC (r 2 0.79, p 0.0031) with EC50s ranging from 27 to 111 mg Cu/L. These laboratory tests have demonstrated that DOC provides glochidia with significant protection from acute Cu toxicity. The potential risk that Cu poses to mussel populations was assessed by comparing Cu and DOC concentrations from significant mussel habitats in Ontario to the EC50s. Although overall mean Cu concentration in the mussel's habitat was well below the acutely toxic level given the concentration of DOC, episodic Cu releases in low DOC waters may be a concern for the recovery of endangered freshwater mussels. The results are examined in the context of current Cu water quality regulations including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) biotic ligand model. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2519 2528. # 2010 SETAC

Background, aim, and scope Task Force 3 of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative has been working towards developing scientifically sound methods for quantifying impacts of substances released into the environment. The Clearwater Consensus follows from the Lausanne (Jolliet et al. Int J Life Cycle Assess 11:209–212, 2006) and Apeldoorn (Apeldoorn Int J Life Cycle Assess 9(5):334, 2004) statements by recommending an approach to and identifying further research for quantifying comparative toxicity potentials (CTPs) for ecotoxicological impacts to freshwater receptors from nonferrous metals. The Clearwater Consensus describes stages and considerations for calculating CTPs that address inconsistencies in assumptions and approaches for organic substances and nonferrous metals by focusing on quantifying the bioavailable fraction of a substance.

Natural organic matter (NOM) in aquatic environments reduces metal toxicity to fish by forming metal-NOM complexes, which reduce metal bioavailability, metal-gill binding and toxicity. However, differences in the chemical composition of different types of NOM (quality) could also affect metal-NOM binding and toxicity. We predicted that Cu-gill binding would vary in trout exposed to Cu in the presence of NOM of different qualities. NOM was collected from three sources: Luther Marsh (terrigenous approximately allochthonous), Bannister Lake (nominally autochthonous), and from a local sewage treatment plant (designated Preston effluent). Excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMS) revealed that terrigenous Luther Marsh NOM was primarily humic acid-like material (74%), whereas Bannister Lake and Preston sewage effluent NOM had lower humic acid-like material but greater fulvic acid-like material (30% and 50%, respectively). The specific absorption coefficient (SAC) of Luther Marsh NOM was also much higher (SAC=37.8), consistent with its darker color, compared to more autochthonous, lightly coloured Bannister Lake (SAC=12.4) NOM, and Preston effluent NOM (SAC=9.2). At low-moderate waterborne Cu (0-2,000 nmol L(-1)), all NOM isolates reduced Cu-gill accumulation by 70-90%. Surprisingly, there were no measurable differences in Cu-gill binding amongst the three NOM treatments when fish were exposed to Cu in the low-moderate range. Only at higher Cu (>2,000 nmol L(-1)) were differences observed, where terrigenous Luther Marsh and Preston effluent NOM reduced Cu-gill binding by 40-50% more than the more autochthonous Bannister Lake NOM. Although Cu-gill binding estimates using the HydroQual BLM showed similar trends, the BLM consistently underestimated Cu-gill binding. We conclude that differences in Cu toxicity at lower-moderate Cu concentrations in the presence of different types of NOM are not necessarily related to measurable differences in Cu-gill accumulation. Rather, we suggest that differences in Cu toxicity reported in the presence of different types of NOM might be explained by direct actions of NOM on the gills, which are quality dependent.

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from six hatcheries were reared in a common facility and then subjected to six different challenge tests. Results indicated that there are differences in the response to stressful challenges among stocks of coho salmon. The challenge tests were exposure to salt water (30‰), high pH (9.4 and 10.0), low pH (3.55, 3.65, 3.75, and 4.1), thermal increase (1°C∙h−1), disease (bacterial kidney disease), and handling (30-s netting and emersion). The measured responses were changes in plasma sodium and chloride ion concentrations for the saline and pH challenges, critical thermal maximum in the thermal tolerance test, mortalities in the disease challenge, and plasma glucose alterations in the handling challenge. The Chehalis River stock was most successful in tolerating salt water but showed the largest plasma ion decrease in acidic waters. The stock from Eagle River had the lowest plasma glucose increase during handling challenges. In the disease challenge the Tenderfoot Creek and Eagle River stocks had high mortalities but the Capilano River stock had the lowest mortality. No stock differences were found during thermal tolerance and high pH challenges. An assessment of overall stock performance across challenges showed that each stock had a unique response profile.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of water chemistry parameters on the acute toxicity of waterborne Ni to Daphnia pulex in soft waters and using this information to develop a biotic ligand model. The effects of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, pH (two differently buffered sets) and natural organic matter (NOM) from two sources were evaluated in standardized 48h acute toxicity tests. Increases in Ca2+ had a protective effect on Ni toxicity, suggesting that this ion competes with Ni at the site of biological uptake. Increased waterborne Mg2+ also reduced Ni toxicity, but to a lesser degree compared with Ca2+. EC50 values increased at higher pH when the organic buffer 3-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid was used to adjust test pH, however in tests series where pH was varied using HCO(3)(-) the results were equivocal. Other testing showed that Na, K and Cl did not influence the toxicity response of D. pulex to Ni. Complexation of Ni by NOM reduced toxicity but Nordic Reservoir NOM was much more protective compared to Suwannee River NOM. Geochemical modeling of organic matter complexation of Ni was done using the HydroQual Biotic Ligand Model (BLM ver. 2.3.3; research mode) and the Windermere Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM ver 6.0). Results showed dramatic differences between the two models in dissolved organic matter complexation. Modelling of Ni geochemistry for test solutions other than those containing NOM showed consistent and minor differences between the WHAM and the BLM. The latter model was used to develop a comprehensive prediction model of Ni toxicity. logK values developed for competitive cationic effects showed that Ca and Mg have a much higher protective effect in soft water compared to models developed for Daphnia magna in hard water. The BLM developed for this species in soft water provided good predictions of toxicity across a wide range of Ni concentrations but also highlighted the need for an improved understanding of the effects of NOM and pH on Ni toxicity in soft waters.

The goal of this study was to develop a biotic ligand model (BLM) for the acute toxicity of zinc to the Daphnia pulex in soft water. In different tests Ca (as CaSO(4)), Na (as NaCl), Mg (as MgSO(4)), K (as KCl), pH (using the buffer 3-(N morpholino)-propanesulphonic acid (MOPS)) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were altered to determine possible effects on the 48h EC50 for Zn. Increases in waterborne Ca(2+) had a protective effect on Zn toxicity, suggesting that this ion competes with Zn and that they share a common site of biological uptake. Increased waterborne Mg(2+) also reduced Zn toxicity, but to a lesser degree compared with Ca(2+). No significant effects of other cations on EC50 for Zn were observed, indicating that the toxicity of Zn in D. pulex is not linked to Na(+) and K(+). Increasing DOC concentrations resulted in higher EC50 values for Zn due to the complexation of Zn by organic matter in solution and the resulting reduction of free Zn(2+) ion concentrations. Tests to characterize the effect of pH on Zn toxicity showed a small rise in EC50 values between pH 6.3 and 7.1 and no further change as pH was increased to 8.0. Two existing BLM implementations for acute Zn effects on D. magna were tested to determine their applicability to D. pulex in soft water. The existing models underestimated the protective effect of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) but accurately predict the effects of DOC. A modified BLM, with revised equilibrium constants for competitive cation effects was developed. This study shows that the acute effects of Zn on D. pulex in soft water can be characterized and incorporated into a predictive BLM.

We tested the predictive ability of the dynamic multipathway bioaccumulation model (DYMBAM) to characterize Cd accumulation in Daphnia magna, a species commonly used in toxicity tests and because of its sensitivity, particularly to metals, a species that is relied upon in ecological risk assessments. We conducted chronic exposure experiments in which D. magna were exposed to either dietborne Cd alone or to both dietborne and waterborne Cd. In the food-only treatments, the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii or Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata were pre-exposed to free Cd ion concentrations, [Cd(2+)], from 0.001 to 100nM (0.001-11microgL(-1)) then, on a daily feeding renewal basis, fed to D. magna over 21 days. In the water plus food treatment, D. magna were exposed for 21 days to the same range of [Cd(2+)] and fed with the same algal species that had been exposed to Cd at various concentrations. In the algal exposure media, Cd concentrations in algae were directly related to those in water and were characterized by a linear regression model using the log transformed concentration of the WHAM predicted Cd(2+) concentration. The DYMBAM was used with estimated values of the model constants for ingestion rate (0.08-0.34gg(-1)day(-1)) and growth rate (0.085-0.131day(-1)) based on our experimental data and with literature values for rate constants of Cd influx and efflux as well as Cd assimilation efficiency. Measured Cd concentrations in D. magna agreed with model predictions within a factor of 3. Using the model, we predict that food is an important contributor of Cd burden to D. magna, particularly at lower Cd exposure concentrations over an environmentally realistic gradient of free Cd in water. However, this cladoceran also takes up Cd from water and this exposure route becomes increasingly important at very high concentrations of free Cd (>10nM or 1.1microgL(-1)). Nevertheless, Cd produced lethal effects in D. magna that were exposed to this metal in water and diet, but exposure to Cd in food only did not result in toxic effects (as measured by survival and reproduction).

In a 21-d chronic toxicity test in which an F0 generation of Daphnia magna were exposed to waterborne Ni, the no-observable-effect concentration (for survival, reproduction, and growth) was 42 microg Ni L(-1), or 58% of the measured 21-d median lethal concentration (LC50) of 71.9 microg Ni L(-1) (95% confidence interval, 56.5-95.0). Chronic exposure to 85 microg Ni L(-1) caused marked decreases in survival, reproduction, and growth in F0 animals. In the F1 generation (daphnids born of mothers from the chronically exposed F0 generation), animals chronically exposed to 42 microg Ni L(-1) for 11 d weighed significantly less (20%) than controls, indicating increased sensitivity of F1 animals. Additionally, in this successive generation, significant decreases in whole-body levels of metabolites occurred following exposure to both 42 microg Ni L(-1) (decreased glycogen and adenosine triphosphate [ATP]) and 21 microg Ni L(-1) (decreased ATP). No significant changes were observed in whole-body total lipid, total protein, and lactate levels at any concentration. Whereas F1 neonates with mothers that were exposed to 21 microg Ni L(-1) showed increased resistance to acute Ni challenge, as measured by a significant (83%) increase in the acute (48-h) LC50, F1 neonates with mothers that were exposed to 42 microg Ni L(-1) were no more tolerant of acute Ni challenge than control animals were. Nickel accumulations in F1 animals chronically exposed to 21 and 42 microg Ni L(-1) were 11- and 18-fold, respectively, above control counterparts. The data presented suggest that chronic Ni exposure to two successive generations of D. magna lowered the overall energy state in the second generation. Whereas the quantity of neonates produced was not affected, the quality was; thus, environmentally meaningful criteria for regulating waterborne Ni concentrations in freshwater require consideration of possible multigenerational effects.

The long-term impacts of chronic metal exposure for aquatic biota are not well understood, partly due to a lack of understanding of metal speciation within tissues. The objective of this study was to determine hepatic Zn speciation of rainbow trout (Oncorhnychus mykiss) exposed to Zn-enriched water in relation to unexposed (control) fish,through direct analysis of freeze-dried liver samples using synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Juvenile rainbow trout (n=30) were exposed to Zn in a two-step process, 200 microg L(-1) for 14 days, followed by 370 microg L(-1) for 23 days. Thirty other trout were grown in a control treatment (10 microg Zn L(-1)). At the end of the experiment, three liver samples per treatment were collected, freeze-dried, ground, and mixed homogeneously. Although Zn concentration was higher in the Zn-exposed livers than in the control livers (22.32 vs 13.73 mg kg(-1), respectively; p < 0.05), Zn speciation was similar for both groups. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy indicated that Zn was coordinated to 4 sulfur atoms with an average Zn-S bond distance of 2.31 +/- 0.02 A. Sulfur K-XANES analysis confirmed that S was predominantly in reduced organic form analogous to cysteine. Our results are consistent with previous evidence for Zn(II) bonding to S in metallothionein proteins. These results suggest that the mechanisms for dealing with the extra load of bioaccumulated Zn in high exposure conditions were the same as in the control group.