Predicting criteria continuous concentrations of 34 metals or metalloids by use of quantitative ion character-activity relationships–species sensitivity distributions (QICAR–SSD) model

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 188; pp. 50 - 55
• Main Authors: Mu, Yunsong, Wu, Fengchang, Chen, Cheng, Liu, Yuedan, Zhao, Xiaoli, Haiqing Liao, Giesy, John P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Aquatic life; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic toxicity; Criteria; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fresh water environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mathematical models; Metalloids; Metalloids - analysis; Metalloids - toxicity; Metals - analysis; Metals - toxicity; Models, Biological; Models, Chemical; Multispecies; Predictive model; Species sensitivity distributions; Species Specificity; Toxic; Toxicity Tests; Toxicology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water pollution; Water Quality; Water quality criteria; Aquatic life; Chronic toxicity; Multispecies; Species sensitivity distributions; Water quality criteria; Predictive model; Water quality index; Toxicity; Interspecific comparison; Prediction; Metal; Forecast model; Metalloid; Modeling; Aquatic environment; Chronic; Spatial distribution; Geographic distribution; Distribution range
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.01.011

Criteria continuous concentrations (CCCs) are useful for describing chronic exposure to pollutants and setting water quality standards to protect aquatic life. However, because of financial, practical, or ethical restrictions on toxicity testing, few data are available to derive CCCs. In this study, CCCs for 34 metals or metalloids were derived using quantitative ion character-activity relationships–species sensitivity distributions (QICAR–SSD) and the final acute-chronic ratio (FACR) method. The results showed that chronic toxic potencies were correlated with several physico-chemical properties among eight species chosen, where the softness index was the most predictive characteristic. Predicted CCCs for most of the metals, except for Lead and Iron, were within a range of 10-fold of values recommended by the U.S. EPA. The QICAR–SSD model was superior to the FACR method for prediction of data-poor metals. This would have significance for predicting toxic potencies and criteria thresholds of more metals or metalloids. •We investigate relationships between σp and log-NOEC in eight species.•The QICAR–SSD model, FACR, and CMC/CCC were used to predict CCCs.•They are as a supplement to screening for toxicities, criteria and standards. CCCs for 34 metals/metalloids were predicted by use of QICAR–SSD model and FACR method.