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Application of Biotic Ligand Model in Predicting Copper Acute Toxicity to Carp (Cyprinidae)

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Abstract

Three representative species of Cyprinidae fishes (Aristichthys nobilis, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, and Cyprinus carpio), which are abundant in Chinese surface waters, were studied to determine their sensitivity to copper (Cu) in acute exposures. We first performed acute toxicity tests to determine the Cu LC50 value for each species in water with varying characteristics. The biotic ligand model (BLM) was then calibrated using the toxicity data for these species together with binding properties specific to Cu. The BLM calibration involved the calculation of the level of Cu accumulation in the gills that resulted in 50% lethality (i.e., LA50). The LA50 values for A. nobilis, C. idellus and C. carpio were 5.16, 11.60 and 9.00 nmol g−1. The model calibrated to these data was improved by adjusting the Cu-proton exchange constant (pK CuHA-A) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to values of 1.84 and 4.67E-3 mol g−1, respectively. The calibrated Cu-BLM was validated for these three common fish species by comparing predicted and observed LC50 values, which were in agreement to within a factor of 2. The results of this study provide an important contribution to ecological risk assessment and establishment of water quality criteria for Cu in China.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (41303092) and the International Copper Association (ENV-25686 A-02 YEAR 2013). We wish to thank our project officer Benny Lu for his aid and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China

    Wanbin Wang, Jing Zhao & Rui Chen

  2. Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, China

    Qibin Liang

  3. Environmental Planning Research Center, Yunnan Institute of Environmental Science, Kunming, 650034, China

    Wanbin Wang

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  1. Wanbin Wang
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  2. Qibin Liang
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  3. Jing Zhao
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  4. Rui Chen
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Correspondence to Wanbin Wang.

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Wang, W., Liang, Q., Zhao, J. et al. Application of Biotic Ligand Model in Predicting Copper Acute Toxicity to Carp (Cyprinidae). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 98, 22–26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1999-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1999-9

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