Influence of natural organic matter source on acute copper, lead, and cadmium toxicity to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
Natural organic matter (NOM) was concentrated from various sites across Canada using a portable reverse-osmosis unit to obtain a range of NOM types, from mainly allochthonous (terrestrially derived) to mainly autochthonous (aquatically derived) NOM. The addition of NOM to Cu exposures in ion-poor water always decreased Cu toxicity to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, approximately 1 g) over a 96-h period, and the degree of protection varied with respect to NOM source. A good correlation was found between the specific absorbance coefficient (SAC) and time to reach 50% mortality (LT50; p < 0.001), indicating that more optically dark, allochthonous-like NOM decreases Cu toxicity better than does optically light, more autochthonous-like NOM. A similar, good relationship between NOM source and Pb toxicity was seen (p < 0.001), once confounding effects of Ca binding to NOM were accounted for. No significant relationship between Cd toxicity and NOM optical quality was seen (p = 0.082), and in toxicity tests with Cd the presence of some of the NOM sources increased Cd toxicity compared to Cd-only controls. Specific absorbance coefficients were used as a proxy measurement of NOM aromaticity in our study, and fluorescence indices were run on some NOM samples to obtain percent aromaticity for each sample. A good correlation was found between SAC and percent aromaticity, indicating that the simple SAC measurement is a reasonable indication of NOM aromaticity and of metal binding by NOM.
Schwartz
Melissa L
ML
CANMET--Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0G1, Canada mschwart@nrcan.gc.ca
Curtis
P Jefferson
PJ
Playle
Richard C
RC
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002170:Canada; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005880:Gills / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D017683:Oncorhynchus; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper