Comparative acute toxicity of organic pollutants and reference values for crustaceans. I. Branchiopoda, Copepoda and Ostracoda

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2006-02, Vol.139 (3), p.385-420
• Main Author: Sánchez-Bayo, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Branchiopoda; Cladocera; Copepoda; Copepoda - drug effects; Crustacea; Crustacea - drug effects; Daphnia; Daphnia - drug effects; Daphnia magna; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fresh Water - chemistry; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lethal Dose 50; Organic Chemicals - toxicity; organic compounds; Organic pollutants; Ostracoda; Plankton; Reference Values; Risk assessment; Risk Assessment - methods; Seawater - chemistry; Species Specificity; toxicity testing; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.06.016

The acute toxicity of 468 organic pollutants to planktonic crustaceans (Branchiopoda, Copepoda and Ostracoda) from pre-existing data was compared by means of statistical analysis and relative tolerance indices ( T rel). A surrogate species commonly used in toxicity bioassays ( Daphnia magna) showed toxicity levels – within one order of magnitude – similar to all other Cladocera species, at least for 82% of the chemicals studied. All neurotoxic insecticides except neonicotinoids, PCBs, organometallic compounds and PAHs are the most toxic substances to these organisms. Sensitivity levels among taxa were compared for individual chemicals as well as groups of chemicals with similar characteristics. Whilst there are marked differences in sensitivity among taxa and particular groups of chemicals, no consistent trends were found for freshwater and saltwater species in relation to the latter groups. No correlation between LC 50 and size of these organisms was found other than by chance, making extrapolations based on allometric equations impossible. A reference guide for the effects of chemicals on crustaceans.