Use of whole-body and subcellular Cu residues of Lumbriculus variegatus to predict waterborne Cu toxicity to both L. variegatus and Chironomus riparius in fresh water.
We tested the use of whole-body and subcellular Cu residues (biologically-active (BAM) and inactive compartments (BIM)), of the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus to predict Cu toxicity in fresh water. The critical whole-body residue associated with 50% mortality (CBR(50)) was constant (38.2-55.6 μg g(-1) fresh wt.) across water hardness (38-117 mg L(-1) as CaCO(3)) and exposure times during the chronic exposure. The critical subcellular residue (CSR(50)) in metal-rich granules (part of BIM) associated with 50% mortality was approximately 5 μg g(-1) fresh wt., indicating that Cu bioavailability is correlated with toxicity:subcellular residue is a better predictor of Cu toxicity than whole-body residue. There was a strong correlation between the whole-body residue of L. variegatus (biomonitor) and survival of Chironomus riparius (relatively sensitive species) in a hard water Cu co-exposure. The CBR(50) in L. variegatus for predicting mortality of C. riparius was 29.1-45.7 μg g(-1) fresh wt., which was consistent within the experimental period; therefore use of Cu residue in an accumulator species to predict bioavailability of Cu to a sensitive species is a promising approach.
Dept. of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1. ngtania2002@yahoo.com
Tania Y T
TY
Ng
Nish M
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Pais
Tarunpreet
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Dhaliwal
Chris M
CM
Wood
D000818:Animals; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper