Title: Toxicity and bioavailability of mercury in spiked sediments on Hyalella curvispina Shoemaker, 1942

Authors: M. Leticia Peluso; Alicia Estela Ronco; Alfredo Salibián

Addresses: Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, La Plata (1900), Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina ' Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, La Plata (1900), Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina ' CIC Provincia de Buenos Aires, Calle 526, entre 10 y 11, 1900, La Plata, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Básicas (PRODEA-INEDES), Universidad Nacional de Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA, Luján, Argentina

Abstract: Mercury is a non-essential toxic heavy metal often found in bottom freshwater sediments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the organic matter (OM) on the toxicity and bioavailability of mercury in sediment samples on the amphipod Hyalella curvispina, assessing survival and growth under chronic exposure. Species sensitivity in water-only tests was LC-50 of 96 h 0.025 mg/L. Results indicate that sediments with OM did not induce lethality under concentrations of mercury up to 10 mg/kg dw. On the contrary, exposed organisms to sediments without OM were significantly affected at half of that metal concentration. Sublethal effects were evident at 3 mg/kg. Presence and proportion of OM in sediment is clearly influencing mercury bioavailability, affecting toxicity in a different level according to the end point being assessed.

Keywords: mercury bioavailability; Hyalella curvispina; organic matter; spiked sediments; sediment toxicity tests; chronic exposure; lethality; sublethal effects; median lethal concentrations; CL-50; sediment quality guidelines; freshwater sediments; heavy metals; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2013.054088

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2013 Vol.6 No.3, pp.224 - 234

Received: 10 Jan 2013
Accepted: 11 Jan 2013
Published online: 21 May 2013 *

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