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Higher Risks of Copper Toxicity in Turbid Waters: Quantifying the Bioavailability of Particle-Bound Metals to Set Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria.
- Source :
-
Environmental science & technology [Environ Sci Technol] 2023 Jan 17; Vol. 57 (2), pp. 1060-1070. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 03. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- In coastal waters, particulate metals constitute a substantial fraction of the total metals; however, the prevalent water quality criteria are primarily based on dissolved metals, seemingly neglecting the contribution of particulate metals. Here we developed a method to quantify the toxicity risk of particulate metals, and proposed a way to calculate modifying factors (MFs) for setting site-specific criteria in turbid waters. Specifically, we used a side-by-side experimental design to study copper (Cu) bioaccumulation and toxicity in an estuarine clam, Potamocorbula laevis , under the exposure to "dissolved only" and "dissolved + particulate" <superscript>65</superscript> Cu. A toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic model (TK-TD) was used to quantify the processes of Cu uptake, ingestion, assimilation, egestion, and elimination, and to relate mortality risk to tissue Cu. We find that particulate Cu contributes 40-67% of the Cu bioaccumulation when the suspended particulate matter (SPM) ranges from 12 to 229 mg L <superscript>-1</superscript> . The Cu-bearing SPM also increases the sensitivity of organisms to internalized Cu by decreasing the internal threshold concentration ( C <subscript>IT</subscript> ) from 141 to 76.8 μg g <superscript>-1</superscript> . MFs were derived based on the TK-TD model to consider the contribution of particulate Cu (in the studied SPM range) for increasing Cu bioaccumulation (MF = 1.3-2.2) and toxicity (MF = 2.3-3.9). Water quality criteria derived from dissolved metal exposure need to be lowered by dividing by an MF to provide adequate protection. Overall, the method we developed provides a scientifically sound framework to manage the risks of metals in turbid waters.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1520-5851
- Volume :
- 57
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental science & technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36595456
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c06447