EC50 Determination Research Articles

Acute toxicity of brass particles to Daphnia magna.

The aquatic toxicity of brass particles was examined. Acute, 48 hour bioassays were performed using the water flea, Daphnia magna. Tests were conducted with uniform suspensions of uncoated brass particles, brass particles coated with a Teflon solution, silica particles, and titanium dioxide particles. The Teflon coating solution and the supernatant of the brass suspension (after settling of the brass) also were tested. All tests were conducted according to guidelines set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Mean EC50 determinations of 20.0 micrograms l-1 and 23.6 micrograms l-1 were calculated for uncoated brass particles and coated brass particles, respectively. The silica, titanium dioxide, and Teflon each had an EC50 greater than 1 g l-1. Chemical fate studies demonstrated that the brass dissociated to its ionic components of copper and zinc quickly at pH 2.0. At pH 5.0 and 6.5, the dissociation occurred too slowly to account for the observed toxicity. The data suggested that the toxicity is due to filtration by the daphnids and subsequent ingestion. EC50 determinations for the brass particles are nearly identical with published EC50 values for copper salts.

Toxicity of eight water-soluble organic chemicals toSelenastrum capricornutum: A study of methods for calculating toxic values using different growth parameters

Results of standard toxicity experiments usingSelenastrum capricornutum and eight water-soluble organic chemicals are presented. Different methods of quantifying toxic response are discussed and compared. A multiple comparison method which gives ‘no effect concentrations’ and ‘lowest concentrations with an observable effect’ is chosen as a preferable method to those which involve interpolation, as would be the case for EC50 determinations. The area under the growth curve is more sensitive than either cell counts from a single point or growth rates for the detection of toxic effect.