Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China

The exposure time in acute toxicology experiments can affect not only the accuracy of toxicity data such as lethal concentration 50 (LC50) at the species level, but also the dose-effect relationship establishment of pollutants at the community level. However, previous study on the time dependence of...

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Main Authors: Tianxin Li, Yao Wang, Ning Qin, Wenjing Zhao, He Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015061
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author Tianxin Li
Yao Wang
Ning Qin
Wenjing Zhao
He Huang
author_facet Tianxin Li
Yao Wang
Ning Qin
Wenjing Zhao
He Huang
author_sort Tianxin Li
collection DOAJ
description The exposure time in acute toxicology experiments can affect not only the accuracy of toxicity data such as lethal concentration 50 (LC50) at the species level, but also the dose-effect relationship establishment of pollutants at the community level. However, previous study on the time dependence of heavy metals is still lacking, and its impact on environmental criteria derivation and risk assessment has not been quantitatively characterized. In this study, the relationship between exposure time and toxicology data of four heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) was studied. Time-dependent species sensitivity distribution (SSD) surfaces of Chinese native freshwater species were established. The ecological indicators, including the hazardous concentration for 5% of species (HC5) values and water quality criteria (WQC), were derived for different exposure times. Finally, the dynamic ecological risks of heavy metals in major Chinese water basins were evaluated. The results indicated a linear negative correlation between the acute toxicity data of heavy metals and exposure time, and a decrease in derived HC5 values as exposure time increased. Compared to one-day experiments, the HC5 values for Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn derived by four-day experiments decreased by 80.87 %, 74.44 %, 67.51 %, and 65.81 %, respectively. Based on the time dependence of the toxicity data, the WQCs for Cd and Cu derived in this study were found to be more stringent than the existing WQCs in China. Dynamic ecological risk assessments revealed that Cu poses a higher ecological risk than the other metals, particularly in the Songhua River, with risk values ranging from 40.4 % to 49.6 %. Therefore, the time dependence of metals should be fully considered in the formulation of acute WQC so as to provide better protection for the water ecosystem security.
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spelling doaj-art-b25968e92f9640bbb3b146feb8e04f1d2025-01-31T05:10:40ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113049Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in ChinaTianxin Li0Yao Wang1Ning Qin2Wenjing Zhao3He Huang4School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaCorresponding author.; School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe exposure time in acute toxicology experiments can affect not only the accuracy of toxicity data such as lethal concentration 50 (LC50) at the species level, but also the dose-effect relationship establishment of pollutants at the community level. However, previous study on the time dependence of heavy metals is still lacking, and its impact on environmental criteria derivation and risk assessment has not been quantitatively characterized. In this study, the relationship between exposure time and toxicology data of four heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) was studied. Time-dependent species sensitivity distribution (SSD) surfaces of Chinese native freshwater species were established. The ecological indicators, including the hazardous concentration for 5% of species (HC5) values and water quality criteria (WQC), were derived for different exposure times. Finally, the dynamic ecological risks of heavy metals in major Chinese water basins were evaluated. The results indicated a linear negative correlation between the acute toxicity data of heavy metals and exposure time, and a decrease in derived HC5 values as exposure time increased. Compared to one-day experiments, the HC5 values for Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn derived by four-day experiments decreased by 80.87 %, 74.44 %, 67.51 %, and 65.81 %, respectively. Based on the time dependence of the toxicity data, the WQCs for Cd and Cu derived in this study were found to be more stringent than the existing WQCs in China. Dynamic ecological risk assessments revealed that Cu poses a higher ecological risk than the other metals, particularly in the Songhua River, with risk values ranging from 40.4 % to 49.6 %. Therefore, the time dependence of metals should be fully considered in the formulation of acute WQC so as to provide better protection for the water ecosystem security.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015061Time dependenceHeavy metalsSpecies sensitivity distributionWater quality criteriaEcological risk
spellingShingle Tianxin Li
Yao Wang
Ning Qin
Wenjing Zhao
He Huang
Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
Ecological Indicators
Time dependence
Heavy metals
Species sensitivity distribution
Water quality criteria
Ecological risk
title Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
title_full Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
title_fullStr Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
title_full_unstemmed Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
title_short Time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in WQC derivation of main water basins in China
title_sort time dependence effect of metal toxicology and application in wqc derivation of main water basins in china
topic Time dependence
Heavy metals
Species sensitivity distribution
Water quality criteria
Ecological risk
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015061
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