Toxicity and Risk Assessment of Zinc and Aluminum Mixtures to Ceriodaphnia silvestrii (Crustacea: Cladocera).

Despite the co-occurrence of metals in aquatic environments, their joint effects are generally not considered during risk assessments. Data on the combined effects of zinc (Zn) and aluminum (Al) on aquatic animals are extremely scarce in the literature, although these metals are commonly used in domestic and industrial activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mixtures of Zn and Al on the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. We evaluated immobility (at 48 h) and ingestion rates (at 24 h). We also performed chronic toxicity tests for single metals. The environmental risks of these substances for tropical freshwaters were estimated from the risk quotient (measured environmental concentration/predicted no-effect concentration). In immobility tests, our results showed a 48-h median effect concentration (EC50) of 0.22 mg Zn L-1 and 0.52 mg Al L-1 , and we observed synergistic effects of Zn and Al, following the independent action model. The ingestion rates of C. silvestrii were inhibited at 0.1, 0.4, and 0.5 mg Al L-1 , and they were increased at 0.08 mg Zn L-1 ; we observed antagonistic effects in all treatments combined with 0.5 mg Al L-1 . In terms of chronic toxicity, a 7-d EC50 occurred at 0.11 mg Zn L-1 and 0.37 mg Al L-1 . The risk assessment suggests a potential risk of these metals at environmentally relevant concentrations, especially when in a mixture. Therefore, we recommend mixture toxicity tests during risk assessments to ensure that zooplankton are protected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2912-2922. © 2021 SETAC.

Evaluation onto life cycle parameters of Ceriodaphnia silvestrii submitted to 36 days dietary copper exposure.

The present study aimed to investigate the response of several life history parameters (body length and age of primipara, duration of embryonic development, maximum body length, reproduction and survival) of the zooplankton Ceriodaphnia silvestrii while exposed to copper contaminated algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In order to evaluate chronic exposure on the animal's life history, long-term experimental design was used. Cladocerans were fed with a dietary copper concentration ranging from 3 to 68 fg Cu cell(-1). Low waterborne copper exposure (around 10(-10)molL(-1) free Cu(2+) ions) was kept in the experiments. The results showed that by exposure of cladocerans during 7 days to contaminated food with 68 fg Cu cell(-1), a significant reduction in neonate production, survival and body size were obtained. Inhibition on egg production of zooplankton at 38 fg Cu cell(-1) were observed in 36 days chronic dietary copper exposure. The importance of entire life cycle study to better evaluate cladoceran responses to chronic dietary metal exposure was demonstrated.