Effect of temperature and salinity on the toxicity of arsenic to three estuarine invertebrates (Corophium volutator, Macoma balthica, Tubiflex costatus)

Abstract

Acute toxicity of pentavalent arsenic to 3 estuarine invertebrates (Corophium volutator, Macoma balthica, Tubitex costatus) has been studied at 3 temperatures (5, 10, 15OC) and a range of salinities (5 to 35 %o, in 5 %O increments), at time intervals u p to 384 h. Median survival times decreased as temperature and concentrat~on of arsenic increased, but salinity changes had no significant effect. From analysis of variance, significant factors and their interactions were ~n c l u d e d in response surface models for C. volutator and M. balthica separately. Results are compared with the limited data previously published. It is emphasized that environmental temperature should be considered when evaluating toxicity of arsenic in the estuarine environment.

Climate change and seafood safety: Human health implications

“…In contrast, arsenic toxicity is not affected by salinity, despite the most toxic form arsenite (3+) predominating over arsenate (5+) at low salinities ( Fig. 3; Bryant, Newbery, McLusky, & Campbell, 1985a). However, the authors of this study measured the As anionic form instead of the cationic one, and so it is likely that the method used to measure the anionic form may have affected the As bioavailability and also influenced osmoregulation.…”

“…As far as toxicity of toxic metals to marine organisms is concerned, Sullivan (1977) reported that the mortality of the crab Paragrapsus gaimardii induced by cadmium was greater at 19°C compared to 5°C. Bryant et al (1985a) reported that arsenic toxicity to three estuarine bottom feeder invertebrates (Corophium volutator, Macoma balthica and Tubifex costatus) increased as temperature and concentration of arsenic increased. Bryant et al (1985b) evaluated the acute toxicity of nickel and zinc to two estuarine invertebrates (Corophium volutator and Macoma balthica) at 5, 10 and 15°C, and found that an increase in temperature caused a decrease in survival for C. volutator with both metals, and for M. balthica with zinc but not with nickel.…”

Fate and effects of soluble or sediment-bound arsenic in oysters (Crassostrea gigas thun.)

“…As shown in this study and others, if survival, condition index or fecundity are taken into account, aquatic invertebrates may be considered as remarkably resistant to As (Bryant et al 1985;Sanders 1986;Sanders et al 1988;Madsen 1992). However when attention is directed towards biological mechanisms at the cellular level, changes may be observed.…”

Toxicology and Laboratory Studies

“…In the presence of oiled Fucus algae, L. lineatus fed and incorporated large quantities of oil in the gut, chloragocytes became blackened, and apparently transformed the oil through metabolic processes. Bryant et al (1985) explored the variability of the toxicity of arsenic to three estuarine invertebrates including the European tubificine Heterochaeta costata (as Tubifex costatus). The tubificine survived for more than 384 h at all combinations of temperature and salinity in a concentration of 250 ppm As.…”

“…Chapman et al (1982b, c) reported 96-h LC 50 values for Tectidrilus verrucosus (as Limnodriloides), Tubificoides fraseri (as T. gabriellae) and Monopylephorus cuticulatus, and showed that similar to freshwater species, the presence of sediments increased tolerance to both chemicals and environmental factors. Bryant et al (1985) calculated the Median Lethal Tolerance of Heterochaeta costata (as Tubifex costatus) to pentavalent As (as sodium arsenate) using sterile sand as a substrate, in a combination of conditions of temperature and salinity. Worms did not survive more than 24 h in salinities above 25‰.…”