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A CONTROLLED BIOASSAY SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TOXICITY OF HEAVY METALS
Citation:
Mancy, K. AND H. Allen. A CONTROLLED BIOASSAY SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TOXICITY OF HEAVY METALS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-77/037.
Description:
Biological availability of metal micronutrients and metal toxicity are believed to be dependent on metal oxidation state, complexation, and solubility as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the aqueous phase. Basic design criteria for fish bioassays which are capable of elucidating the dependency of toxicity on the type and concentration of various copper species were developed utilizing equilibrium chemical concepts and appropriate analytical techniques. In order to maintain a desired copper species in the bioassay medium, synthetic waters were used under well-defined physical and chemical conditions. These solutions were synthesized in accordance with equilibrium models, which define the distribution of various copper species as a function of the solution physical and chemical characteristics. An experimental system was developed which permitted large volumes of the bioassay waters to be maintained at the desired chemical equilibria for the duration of the experiment.