Natural organic matter source, concentration, and pH influences the toxicity of zinc to a freshwater microalga.

Price, GAV; Stauber, JL; Jolley, DF; Koppel, DJ; Van Genderen, EJ; Ryan, AC; Holland, A

Natural organic matter source, concentration, and pH influences the toxicity of zinc to a freshwater microalga.

Price, GAV Stauber, JL Jolley, DF Koppel, DJ Van Genderen, EJ Ryan, AC Holland, A

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environ Pollut, 2023, 318, pp. 120797-120797
Issue Date:: 2023-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Price, GAV
dc.contributor.author	Stauber, JL
dc.contributor.author	Jolley, DF
dc.contributor.author	Koppel, DJ
dc.contributor.author	Van Genderen, EJ
dc.contributor.author	Ryan, AC
dc.contributor.author	Holland, A
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-26T02:17:00Z
dc.date.available	2022-11-29
dc.date.available	2024-03-26T02:17:00Z
dc.date.issued	2023-02-01
dc.identifier.citation	Environ Pollut, 2023, 318, pp. 120797-120797
dc.identifier.issn	0269-7491
dc.identifier.issn	1873-6424
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177158
dc.description.abstract	Zinc is a contaminant of concern in aquatic environments and is a known toxicant to many aquatic organisms. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a toxicity modifying factor for zinc and is an important water chemistry parameter. This study investigated the influence of DOM concentration, source, and water pH on the chronic toxicity of zinc to a freshwater microalga, Chlorella sp. The influence of DOM on zinc toxicity was dependent on both concentration and source. In the absence of DOM, the 72-h EC50 was 112 μg Zn.L-1. In the presence of a DOM high in fulvic-like components, zinc toxicity was either slightly decreased (<4-fold increase in EC10s across 15 mg C.L-1 range) or unchanged (minimal difference in EC50s). In the presence of a DOM high in humic-like (aromatic and high molecular weight) components, zinc toxicity was slightly decreased at the EC10 level and strongly increased at the EC50 level. The influence of pH on zinc toxicity was dependent on the source of DOM present in the water. In the presence of DOM high in humic-like components pH did not influence toxicity. In the presence of DOM high in fulvic-like components, pH had a significant effect on EC50 values. Labile zinc (measured by diffusive gradients in thin-films) followed linear relationships with dissolved zinc but could not explain the changes in observed toxicity, with similar DGT-labile zinc relationships shown for the two DOMs despite each DOM influencing toxicity differently. This indicates changes in toxicity may be unrelated to changes in zinc lability. The results suggest that increased toxicity of zinc in the presence of DOM may be due to direct uptake of Zn-DOM complexes. This study highlights the importance of considering DOM source and characteristics when incorporating DOM into water quality guidelines through bioavailability models.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Environ Pollut
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120797
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.mesh	Chlorella
dc.subject.mesh	Dissolved Organic Matter
dc.subject.mesh	Fresh Water
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.subject.mesh	Organic Chemicals
dc.subject.mesh	Zinc
dc.subject.mesh	Zinc
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.subject.mesh	Chlorella
dc.subject.mesh	Fresh Water
dc.subject.mesh	Organic Chemicals
dc.subject.mesh	Dissolved Organic Matter
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
dc.subject.mesh	Chlorella
dc.subject.mesh	Zinc
dc.subject.mesh	Organic Chemicals
dc.subject.mesh	Fresh Water
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.subject.mesh	Dissolved Organic Matter
dc.subject.mesh	Zinc
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.subject.mesh	Chlorella
dc.subject.mesh	Fresh Water
dc.subject.mesh	Organic Chemicals
dc.subject.mesh	Dissolved Organic Matter
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
dc.title	Natural organic matter source, concentration, and pH influences the toxicity of zinc to a freshwater microalga.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	318
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2024-03-26T02:16:58Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	318

Abstract:

Zinc is a contaminant of concern in aquatic environments and is a known toxicant to many aquatic organisms. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a toxicity modifying factor for zinc and is an important water chemistry parameter. This study investigated the influence of DOM concentration, source, and water pH on the chronic toxicity of zinc to a freshwater microalga, Chlorella sp. The influence of DOM on zinc toxicity was dependent on both concentration and source. In the absence of DOM, the 72-h EC50 was 112 μg Zn.L-1. In the presence of a DOM high in fulvic-like components, zinc toxicity was either slightly decreased (<4-fold increase in EC10s across 15 mg C.L-1 range) or unchanged (minimal difference in EC50s). In the presence of a DOM high in humic-like (aromatic and high molecular weight) components, zinc toxicity was slightly decreased at the EC10 level and strongly increased at the EC50 level. The influence of pH on zinc toxicity was dependent on the source of DOM present in the water. In the presence of DOM high in humic-like components pH did not influence toxicity. In the presence of DOM high in fulvic-like components, pH had a significant effect on EC50 values. Labile zinc (measured by diffusive gradients in thin-films) followed linear relationships with dissolved zinc but could not explain the changes in observed toxicity, with similar DGT-labile zinc relationships shown for the two DOMs despite each DOM influencing toxicity differently. This indicates changes in toxicity may be unrelated to changes in zinc lability. The results suggest that increased toxicity of zinc in the presence of DOM may be due to direct uptake of Zn-DOM complexes. This study highlights the importance of considering DOM source and characteristics when incorporating DOM into water quality guidelines through bioavailability models.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177158