title: The relationship between metal toxicity and biotic ligand binding affinities in aquatic and soil organisms: a review.
abstract: The biotic ligand model (BLM) is a theoretical, potentially mechanistic approach to assess metal bioavailability in soil and aquatic systems. In a BLM, toxicity is linked to the fraction of biotic ligand occupied, which in turn, depends on the various components of the solution, including activity of the metal. Bioavailability is a key factor in determining toxicity and uptake of metals in organisms. In this study, the present status of BLM development for soil and aquatic organisms is summarized. For all species and all metals, toxicity was correlated with the conditional biotic ligand binding constants. For almost all organisms, values for Ag, Cu, and Cd were higher than those for Zn and Ni. The constants derived for aquatic systems seem to be equally valid for soil organisms, but in the case of soils, bioavailability from the soil solution is greatly influenced by the presence of the soil solid phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.m.ardestani@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Masoud M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ardestani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Straalen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Gestel
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Bioavailability; Biotic ligand model; Conditional binding constant; Effects; Soil and aquatic organisms