title: Ecotoxicologically based marine acute water quality criteria for metals intended for protection of coastal areas.
abstract: Acute water quality criteria (WQC) for the protection of coastal ecosystems are developed on the basis of short-term ecotoxicological data using the most sensitive life stages of representative species from the main taxa of marine water column organisms. A probabilistic approach based on species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves has been chosen and compared to the WQC obtained applying an assessment factor to the critical toxicity values, i.e. the 'deterministic' approach. The criteria obtained from HC5 values (5th percentile of the SSD) were 1.01 μg/l for Hg, 1.39 μg/l for Cu, 3.83 μg/l for Cd, 25.3 μg/l for Pb and 8.24 μg/l for Zn. Using sensitive early life stages and very sensitive endpoints allowed calculation of WQC for marine coastal ecosystems. These probabilistic WQC, intended to protect 95% of the species in 95% of the cases, were calculated on the basis of a limited ecotoxicological dataset, avoiding the use of large and uncertain assessment factors.
authors.affiliation: ECIMAT, Universidade de Vigo, Illa de Toralla, E-36331 Coruxo, Galicia, Spain. Electronic address: iduran@uvigo.es.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beiras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Acute water quality criteria; Marine species; Species sensitivity distribution; Trace metals