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Formation of copper complexes in landfill leachate and their toxicity to zebrafish embryos
Author(s) -
Fraser Jonathon K.,
Butler Catherine A.,
Timperley Michael H.,
Evans Clive W.
Publication year - 2000
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.5620190523
Subject(s) - leachate , copper , environmental chemistry , chemistry , genetic algorithm , titration , metal , ligand (biochemistry) , adsorption , bioconcentration , chelation , inorganic chemistry , bioaccumulation , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , receptor , biology
Toxic metal organic complexeshavenot been found in natural waters, although someorganicacids form bioavailable lipophilic and metabolite‐type metal complexes. Landfill leachates usually contain organic acids and in the urban environment these leachates, when mixed with storm waters containing Cu, could be a source of toxic Cu organic complexes in streams and estuaries. We investigated the formation of Cu complexes in the leachate from an active urban landfill and found that some of the complexes formed were toxic to zebrafish embryos. High and low nominal molecular weight (NMWT) fractions; >5,000 Da and <700 Da, of leachate both formed Cu complexes with almost identical Cu complexing characteristics but the toxicity was due solely to the low NMWT complexes formed in the <700 Da fraction. Chemical equilibrium modelling with MINTEQA2 and H and Cu complex conditional association constants and ligand concentrations obtained from pH and Cu titrations with a Cu ion‐selective electrode and van den Berg–Ruzic analyses of the titration data was used to calculate the copper speciation in the embryo test solutions. This calculated speciation, which was confirmed by measurements of Cu 2+ in the test solutions, enabled the toxicity due to the free Cu ion and to the Cu complexes to be distinguished.