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Effects of sulfate on the acute toxicity of selenate to freshwater organisms
Author(s) -
Brix Kevin V.,
Volosin Joseph S.,
Adams William J.,
Reash Robin J.,
Carlton Richard G.,
McIntyre Dennis O.
Publication year - 2001
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.5620200514
Subject(s) - selenate , ceriodaphnia dubia , hyalella azteca , sulfate , toxicity , environmental chemistry , acute toxicity , water quality , aquatic toxicology , ecotoxicology , chemistry , daphnia magna , amphipoda , toxicology , selenium , biology , ecology , crustacean , organic chemistry
This study evaluated the relationship between ambient sulfate concentrations and acute selenate toxicity to freshwater aquatic life. Previous studies indicated that increasing sulfate concentrations reduced selenate bioconcentration and toxicity. However, these studies generally were not conducted in a manner that was conducive to their use in deriving a water quality criterion. We compiled results from previous studies and generated additional data to help define a selenate–sulfate relationship for acute toxicity. Selenate toxicity was determined in standardized test waters with varying sulfate concentrations using Ceriodaphnia dubia, Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, Hyalella azteca , and Pimephales promelas as the test organisms. Analysis of test results indicated that a significant relationship does exist between acute selenate toxicity and ambient sulfate concentrations. Data from these tests and previous studies were combined to develop a statistical relationship sufficiently robust to derive a sulfate‐dependent water quality criterion for selenate. The relationship is similar to those commonly derived between divalent metals and hardness to adjust water quality criteria.