Comparison of temperate and tropical freshwater species’ acute sensitivities to chemicals: An update

• Published in: Integrated environmental assessment and management 2019-05, Vol.15 (3), p.352-363
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhen, Kwok, Kevin WH, Leung, Kenneth MY
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Ammonia; Aquatic crustaceans; Aquatic ecosystems; Biodiversity; Carbaryl; Chemicals; Chlordane; Chlorpyrifos; Crustaceans; DDT; Ecological risk assessment; Ecosystems; Frameworks; Fresh water; Freshwater; Freshwater ecosystem; Freshwater ecosystems; Information management; Inland water environment; Insecticides; Insects; Lead; Lindane; Malathion; Manganese; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mollusks; Natural resources; Organic chemistry; Pentachlorophenol; Pesticides; Phenols; Ratios; Risk assessment; Risk management; Safe extrapolation factors; Sensitivity; Species; Species sensitivity distributions; Strategic management; Toxicity; Tropical climate; Tropical environments; Water quality; Water quality guidelines
• ISSN: 1551-3777; 1551-3793
• DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4122

ABSTRACT Toxicity data for tropical species are often lacking for deriving water quality guidelines (WQGs) and for conducting ecological risk assessment (ERA). To protect and safeguard valuable natural resources and important biodiversity in tropical freshwater ecosystems, a sound framework should be established to assess and manage the ecological risk of an ever‐increasing number of chemicals that occur in the tropics. The present study aims to provide a more up‐to‐date comparison of the species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) between temperate and tropical freshwater species, by incorporating more acute toxicity data that have been documented. Results showed that temperate freshwater species are generally more sensitive to As, Cr, Pb, Hg, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, DDT, lindane, and malathion than are their tropical counterparts, whereas tropical species tend to be more sensitive to un‐ionized ammonia, Mn, chlordane, and phenol. No sensitivity differences were found between temperate and tropical freshwater species to Cu and pentachlorophenol. A general decline in sensitivity trend to chemicals was revealed by comparing taxon‐specific SSDs, from crustaceans to mollusks, worms, fishes, and insects. On the basis of calculated 10% hazardous concentration (HC10) ratios from pairwise temperate and tropical SSDs, the temperate‐to‐tropic safe extrapolation factor was verified and refined as 5 for information. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:000–000. © 2019 SETAC Key Points Temperate freshwater species are generally more sensitive to As, Cr, Pb, Hg, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, DDT, lindane, and malathion than their tropical counterparts, while tropical species tend to be more sensitive to un‐ionized ammonia, Mn, chlordane, and phenol. No sensitivity differences were found between temperate and tropical freshwater species to Cu and pentachlorophenol. Freshwater crustaceans are the most sensitive taxon, suitable for toxicity testing and risk assessment. Temperate‐to‐tropic safe extrapolation factor was verified and refined as 5.