Influence of water hardness on acute toxicity of copper and zinc on fish

Abstract

The aim of this study was to utilize static test for examining the acute toxicity of two essential elements, Cu and Zn, to a native fish, Capoeta fusca, by static bioassay. The acute toxicity of two heavy metals to C. fusca was determined in the soft, hard and very hard water (40, 150 and 380 mg/L as CaCO₃). Results showed that toxicity of Cu and Zn decreased with increasing water hardness, so that water hardness had a significant effect on Cu and Zn toxicity on fish. Copper and Zn were more toxic in the soft water than in the hard water. The 96-hour lethal concentration for 50% (LC₅₀) values for C. fusca were lower in the soft water compared with the hard and very hard water. The 96-hour LC₅₀ for Cu at the soft, hard and very hard water was found to be 1.1, 5.4 and 7.5 mg/L, respectively, while the 96-hour LC₅₀ for Zn at the soft, hard and very hard water was found to be 13.7, 74.4 and 102.9 mg/L, respectively.

Keywords

acute toxicity hard water heavy metals mortality soft water

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Carvalho CS , Fernandes MN ( 2006) Effect of temperature on copper toxicity and haematological responses in the neotropical fish Prochilodus scrofa at low and high pH. Aquaculture 251: 109-117.

Ebrahimpour M. , Mushrifah I. ( 2008) Heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments in Tasik Chini, a freshwater lake, Malaysia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 141: 297-307.

Ebrahimpour M. , Mosavisefat M. , and Mohabbati R. ( 2010) Acute toxicity bioassay of mercuric chloride: an alien fish from a river. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry . 92: 169-173.

EPA Probit Analysis, Version 1.5 (2009) Available at: http://www.epa.gov/nerleerd/stat2.htm

Ezemonye LIN , Ogeleka DF , and Okieimen FE ( 2008) Lethal toxicity of industrial chemicals to early life stages of Tilapia guineensis. Journal of Hazardous Materials 157: 64-68.

Gillis PL , Mitchell RJ , Schwalb AN , McNichols KA , Mackie GL , Wood CM , et al. (2008) Sensitivity of the glochidia (larvae) of freshwater mussels to copper: assessing the effect of water hardness and dissolved organic carbon on the sensitivity of endangered species. Aquatic Toxicology 88: 137-145.

Hoffman DJ , Rattner BR , Burton JA , and Cairns J. ( 2000) Handbook of Ecotoxicology. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers.

Javid A. , Javed M. , and Abdullah S. ( 2007) Nickel bio-accumulation in the bodies of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala during 96-hr LC50 exposures. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 9: 139-142.

Kim AD , Gu MB , Allen HE , and Cha D. ( 2001) Physio-chemical factors affecting the sensitivity of Ceriodaphnia bulba to copper. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 70: 105-116.

10.

Molokwu CN , Okpokwasili GC ( 2002) Effect of water hardness on egg hatchability and larval viability of Clarias gariepinus. Aquaculture International 10: 57-64.

11.

Penttinen S. , Kostamo A. , and Kukkonen JVK ( 1998) Combined effects of dissolved organic material and water hardness on toxicity of cadmium to Daphnia magna’ . Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17: 2498-2503.

12.

Perschbacher PW , Wurts WA ( 1999) Effects of calcium and magnesium hardness on acute copper toxicity to juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Aquaculture 172: 275-280.

13.

Pyle GG , Swanson SM , and Lehmkuht DM ( 2002) The influence of water hardness, pH, and suspended solids on nickel toxicity to larva fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 133: 215-226.

14.

Rathor RS , Khangarot BS ( 2003) Effects of water hardness and metal concentration on a fresh water Tubifex tubifex muller. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 142: 341-356.

15.

Stiros SC ( 2006) Accurate measurements with primitive instruments: the ‘‘paradox’’ in the qanat design. Journal of Archaeological Science 33: 1058-1064.

16.

Storelli MM , Storelli A. , D’ddabbo R. , Marano C. , Bruno R. , and Marcotrigiano GO (2005) Trace elements inmloggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea: Overview and evaluation. Environmental Pollution 135: 163-170.

17.

Straus DL ( 2003) The acute toxicity of copper to blue tilapia in dilutions of settled pond water. Aquaculture 219: 233-240.

18.

Yilmaz AB ( 2003) Levels of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Zn) in tissue of Mugil cephalus and Trachurus mediterraneus from Iskenderun Bay, Turkey. Environmental Research 92: 277-281.

19.

Yılmaz M. , Gül A. , and Karaköse E. (2004) Investigation of acute toxicity and the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2. H2O) metal salt on behavior of the guppy (Poecilia reticulate). Chemosphere 56: 375-380.