A biotic ligand model-based toxicodynamic approach to predict arsenic toxicity to tilapia gills in cultural ponds

Abstract

Farming of tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus is an important aquacultural activity in Taiwan. Due to the elevated arsenic (As) concentration in pond water, it is important to assess the bioavailability and toxicity of As to tilapia for protection of aquatic life and human health. In the present study, we developed a biotic ligand model (BLM)-based toxicodynamic approach to dynamically predict both acute and chronic effective concentrations of As to tilapia in two tilapia farms located at Pudai and Chiangchun counties in southwestern Taiwan. Parameters revealed in the mechanistic model were obtained by fitting this model to the toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic data from our previous laboratory experiments. Based on our extended BLM concepts, the site-specific water effect ratios and ambient water quality criteria can be determined with known water chemistry. The proposed methodology was capable of bridging the gap between laboratory toxicity bioassays and field investigations. With respect to risk assessments, our research may also provide an useful means of generating and adjusting the site-specific ambient water quality criteria.

A generic biotic ligand model quantifying the development in time of Ni toxicity to Enchytraeus crypticus

“…According to this assumption, some models were developed based on the common BLM to predict the time course of toxicity of metals with fixed binding constants. These separate studies found that the fraction of binding sites occupied by the metal causing 50% effect (f 50 ) decreased with exposure time (Chen et al, 2009;Chen and Liao, 2010). Binding constants of Ca, Mg and Na obtained for Daphnia magna in a chronic (21 d) Zn-BLM were 0.2-0.4 log units lower than in an acute (48 h) Zn-BLM (Heijerick et al, 2002(Heijerick et al, , 2005.…”

Guidance on the Incorporation of Bioavailability Concepts for Assessing the Chemical Ecological Risk and/or Environmental Threshold Values of Metals and Inorganic Metal Compounds

“…Additional references (e.g., publications that only focus on the metalgill binding interaction) can be found in Ardestani et al (2014). Ag Bury et al, 2002;Janes and Playle, 1995;McGeer et al, 2000;Morgan and Wood, 2004;Paquin et al, 1999. As Chen et al, 2009.…”