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Effects of hardness, alkalinity and pH on the toxicity of pentachlorophenol to selenastrum capricornutum (printz)
Author(s) -
Smith P. D.,
Brockway D. L.,
Stancil F. E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620061110
Subject(s) - selenastrum , pentachlorophenol , alkalinity , hard water , soft water , ec50 , toxicity , chemistry , environmental chemistry , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , in vitro
The toxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP) to Selenastrum capricornutum was examined in three different culture media: a hard and a soft form of Freeman's reference water and the algal assay bottle test (AABT) medium (a soft water). The 96‐h growth potentials of the media were equal (28–29 mg/L dry wt.) but 96‐h EC50s ranged sevenfold: 0.11 mg/L (AABT), 0.15 mg/L (Freeman's soft water) and 0.76 mg/L (Freeman's hard water). Culture media equilibrium pH and 96‐h EC50 were strongly correlated ( r = 1.00). Evidence is presented that supports the hypothesis that the toxicity of PCP, a weak acid, is due primarily to the concentration of the undissociated species.