The effect of pH and hardness on the uptake and toxicity of Cadmium to the aquatic oligochaetes Tubifex tubifex
Mrosso, S. (2002). The effect of pH and hardness on the uptake and toxicity of Cadmium to the aquatic oligochaetes Tubifex tubifex. MSc Thesis. Universiteit Antwerpen/Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussel. VII, 45 pp. |
| Available in | Author | | Document type: Dissertation
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| Keywords | Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals > Cadmium
Properties > Biological properties > Toxicity
Properties > Chemical properties > P
Properties > Water properties > Physical properties > Water hardness
Uptake
Tubifex tubifex (Müller, 1774) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | pH and water hardness are important factors influencing metal speciation, metal adsorption at biological surfaces and hence uptake and toxicity to aquatic organisms.To understand the effect of pH and water hardness on metal uptake and toxicity is necessary to predict the possible changes of metal and its potential effects on ecosystems and to provide basic information for establishing water and sediment quality standards. The effect of acclimation and exposure pH on the uptake and toxicity of cadmium in Tubifex tubifex was studied in chemically defined freshwater solutions. Although the correlation between acclimation and exposure pH on cadmium toxicity was not clear, a trend was observed as exposure pH increase. Exposure pH influence metal speciation and the uptake were higher at basic condition. A strong correlation was observed between hardness and cadmium uptake and toxicity. This is in agreement with theory that increases in hardness decrease metal uptake and toxicity. The competition between the calcium and cadmium resulted in the decreased cadmium uptake and toxicity. |
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