title: Derivation of a water quality guideline for aluminium in marine waters.
abstract: Metal risk assessment of industrialized harbors and coastal marine waters requires the application of robust water quality guidelines to determine the likelihood of biological impacts. Currently there is no such guideline available for aluminium in marine waters. A water quality guideline of 24 µg total Al/L has been developed for aluminium in marine waters based on chronic 10% inhibition or effect concentrations (IC10 or EC10) and no-observed-effect concentrations (NOECs) from 11 species (2 literature values and 9 species tested including temperate and tropical species) representing 6 taxonomic groups. The 3 most sensitive species tested were a diatom Ceratoneis closterium (formerly Nitzschia closterium; IC10 = 18 µg Al/L, 72-h growth rate inhibition) < mussel Mytilus edulis plannulatus (EC10 = 250 µg Al/L, 72-h embryo development) < oyster Saccostrea echinata (EC10 = 410 µg Al/L, 48-h embryo development). Toxicity to these species was the result of the dissolved aluminium forms of aluminate (Al(OH4 (-) ) and aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3 (0) ) although both dissolved, and particulate aluminium contributed to toxicity in the diatom Minutocellus polymorphus and green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. In contrast, aluminium toxicity to the green flagellate alga Tetraselmis sp. was the result of particulate aluminium only. Four species, a brown macroalga (Hormosira banksii), sea urchin embryo (Heliocidaris tuberculata), and 2 juvenile fish species (Lates calcarifer and Acanthochromis polyacanthus), were not adversely affected at the highest test concentration used.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Brad M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Graeme E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Batley
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Apte
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krassoi
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects; D017377:Diatoms / Q000187:drug effects; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000535:Aluminum
keywords: Metal; Speciation; Species sensitivity distribution; Toxicity; Water quality guidelines