51
The toxicity of aluminum to aquatic species in the US Frank Gostomski Water Quality Criteria Section, Office of Water Regulations and Standards (WH-585), US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
Abstract
In August 1988 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an ambient water quality criteria document for the protection of aquatic organisms from the toxic effects of aluminum. The EPA water quality criteria were developed utilizing procedures described in the Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, and after careful analysis of the latest toxicological information available to EPA on the adverse effects of aluminum on aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. The EPA criteria recommend that the four-day average concentration of aluminum not exceed 87 lag L-1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from chronic toxicity. The criteria also recommend that the one-hour average concentration of aluminum not exceed 750 lag L-1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from acute toxicity. Acute toxicity data for 20 species of freshwater aquatic organisms and chronic toxicity data for five species of freshwater aquatic organisms were utilized to develop the EPA water quality criteria. Striped bass and brook trout were observed to be the two most sensitive North American species to the toxic effects of aluminum. Aluminum toxicity was also observed to be increased at lower pH.
Acute Toxicity of Aluminum to Aquatic Organisms Data are available for 20 freshwater North American species on the acute toxicity of aluminum at pH condition between 6.5 and 9.0. The acute toxicity of aluminum to freshwater aquatic animals is summarized in Table 1. The most sensitive freshwater vertebrate was the juvenile brook trout, Salvelinusfontinalis, with a reported LC50 of 3,600 ~tg L 1 (Decker and Menendez, 1974). The most sensitive freshwater invertebrate was the cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubis, with a reported LC50 of 1,900 lag L 1 (McCauley et al., 1986). The acute toxicity data for aquatic animals indicates that the toxicity of aluminum increases as pH decreases. The toxicity of aluminum to aquatic plants is summarized in Table 2. The most sensitive freshwater plant was the green alga, Selenastrum capricornatum, with a reported EC50 of 460 lag L q (Call, 1984).
Chronic Toxicity of Aluminum to Aquatic Organisms Data are available for five freshwater North American species on the chronic or sub-chronic toxicity of aluminum at pH condition between 6.5 and 9. The chronic toxicity of aluminum to freshwater aquatic animals is summarized in Table 3. The cladoceran, Daphnia magna, was the most sensitive invertebrate species with a reported chronic value of 742 lag L 1 (Kimball, Manuscript).
In addition to these life-cycle and early life-stage tests, additional information on the toxicity of aluminum to two other sensitive freshwater fish species are available and are summarized in Table 4. Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, exhibited 100% lethality, at 349 lag L 1 aluminum and 58% lethality at 174 ~tg L-' after seven days exposure (Buckler et al., Manuscript). Brook trout, Salvelinusfontinalis, exhibited 48% lethality at 350 ~t{~L -1 aluminum and 24% reduction in weight at 169 lag L " a f t e r 60 days exposure (Cleveland et al., Manuscript). Exposure to an aluminum concentration of 87 lag L "1 caused no mortality and no significant weight loss with these two species.
Derivation of EPA Criteria Recommendation EPA develops ambient water quality criteria utilizing procedures described in the "Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses" (Stephan et al., 1985). The Guidelines require that criteria be protective of important sensitive species in the aquatic environment. Accordingly, the acute criterion for aluminum was set at 750 lag L - ' t o provide adequate protection from acute effects, based upon the toxicity data presented in Table 1. The chronic criterion for aluminum was set at 87 lag L 1 to provide adequate protection from chronic effects, based upon the toxicity data presented in Table 4 (U.S. EPA, 1988).
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7"he toxicity of aluminium to aquatic species in the US Table 1 Acute toxicity of aluminum to aquatic animals. Freshwater species.
Species
Method a Chemical
Planarian (adult), Dugesia tigrina Snail (adult), P hysa sp. Snail (adult), Physa sp. Snail (adult), Physa sp. Snail (adult), P hysa sp. Cladoceran (<16 hr), Ceriodaphnia dubia Cladoceran (<24 hr), Ceriodaphnia sp. Cladoceran, Daphnla magna Cladoceran, Daphnia magna Cladoceran, Daphnia magna Amphipod (adult), Gammarus pseudolimnaeus Stonefly (nymph), Acroneuria sp. Midge (larva), Tanytarsus dissimil& Chinook salmon, (juvenile), Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Rainbow trout, (juvenile), Salmo gairdneri Rainbow trout, (juvenile), Salmo gairdneri Rainbow trout, (juvenile), Salmo gairdneri Rainbow trout, (juvenile), Satmo gairdneri Brook trout, (juvenile), Salvelinus fontinalis Fathead minnow, (adult), P imephales pr omelas Fathead minnow, (juvenile), P imephales promelas Fathead minnow, (juvenile), P imephales promelas Fathead minnow, (juvenile), Pimephales promelas Channel catfish, (juvenile), lctalurus punctatus Green sunfish, (juvenile), Lepomis cyanellus Yellow perch, (juvenile), P erca flavescens
S, M S, M S, M S, M S, M S, M S, M S, U S, M S, M S, M S, M S, U
Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum cbJoride Aluminum chloride Aluminum sulfate Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride Aluminum sulfate
Hardness (rag L"1 as CaC03)
LC50 or EC50 pH
Spec&s mean acute value (I.tg L't) b (I.tg L "l) >23,000
Reference
47.4
7.48
>23,000~
47.4
7.46
55,000a
Call, 1984
47.4
6.59
>23,400
Call, 1984
47.4
7.55
30,600
Call, 1984
47.4
8.17
>24,700
30,600
50.0
7.4
1,900
1,900
McCauley et at., 1986
47.4
7.68
3,690
3,690
Call, 1984
45.3
3,900 e
45.4
6.57.5 7.61
>25,300
220 ~
7.05
38,200
38,200
Kimball, manuscript
47.4
7.53
22,000
22,000
Call, 1984
47.4
7.46
>22,600
>22,600
Call, 1984
17.43
7.716.85
>79,900
>79,900
Lamb and Bailey, 1981
>40,000
>40,000
Peterson et al., 1974
Brooke et at., 1985
Call, 1984
Biesinger and Christensen, 1972 Brooke et at., 1985
S, M
Sodium aluminate
28.0
7.0
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
7.46
8,600 d
Call, 1984
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
6.59
7,400
Call, 1984
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
7.31
14,600
Call, 1984
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
8.17
>24,700~
10,390
Call, 1984
F, M
Aluminum sulfate
6.5
3,600
3,600
Decker and Menendez, 1974
S, U
Aluminum sulfate
7.6
>18,900
Boyd, 1979
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
7.61
>48,200
Call, 1984
S, M
Aluminum chloride
47.4
8.05
>49,800
Call, 1984
F, M
Aluminum sulfate
220f
7.34
35,000
35,000
Kimball, manuscript
S, M Aluminum chloride
47.4
7.54
>47,900
>47,900
Call, 1984
S, M Aluminum chloride
47.4
7.55
>50,000
>50,000
Call, 1984
S, M Aluminum chloride
~17.4
7.55
>49,800
>49,800
Call, 1984
" S = ~tatic;R = renewal; F = flow-through; M = measured; U = unmeasured.
b Concentration of aluminum, not the chemical c 48-hr test d Aluminum chloride was added to Lake Superior water, the pH was adjusted, and the solution was aerated for 18 days prior to addition of test organisms; not used in calculations. c Not used in calculations. f From Smith et at. (1976).
F. Gostomski
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Table 2 Toxicity of aluminum to aquatic plants. Freshwater speciies.
Hardness (rag L "l as CaC03)
Duration (days)
Concentration (lig L I )a Reference
Effect
Species
Chemical
pH
Diatom, Cyclotella mene g hiniana
Aluminum chloride
7.9
Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum Duckweed, Lemna minor Duckweed, Lemna minor
Sodium aluminate Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride -
7.0
15
14
7.6
14.9
4
Inhibited growth #static algicidal Reduced cell counts and dry weight EC50 (biomass)
8.2
14.9
4
EC50 (biomass)
32
EC50 (root weight) 2,500
Stanley, 1974
Aluminum chloride Aluminum chloride
7.6
14.9
4
Reduced frond
>45,700
Call, 1984
8.2
14.9
4
Reduced frond production
>45,700
Call, 1984
8
-
810 3,240 6,480 9901,320 570 460
Rao and Subramanian, 1982 Peterson et al., 1974 Call, 1984 Call, 1984
production
a Concentration of aluminum, not the chemical.
Table 3 Chronic toxicity of aluminum to aquatic animals. Freshwater species.
Species
Testa Chemical
Hardness (mg L 1 as CaC03)
pH
Limits (j.tg L'I )b
Chronic value ($tg L "1) 1,908
Cladoceran, LC Ceriodaphnia dubia
Aluminum chloride
50
7.15
1,4002,600
Cladoceran, Daphnia magna
Aluminum sulfate
220e
8.30
5401,020
Aluminum sulfate
220e
7.248.15
2,300 4,700
LC
Fathead minnow ELS Pimephales promelas
742.2
Reference McCauley et al. 1986
Kimball, Manuscript
3,288
Kimball, Manuscript
a LC = life-cycle or partial life-cycle; ELS -- early life-stage. b Measured concentrations of aluminum. c From Smith et al. (1976)
Table 4 Other data on effects of aluminum on aquatic organisms. Freshwater species.
Species
Chemical
Brook trout (embryo, larva), Salvelinus fontinalis
Aluminum sulfate
Striped bass (160 days) Morone saxatilis
Aluminum sulfate
Hardness (mg L 1 as CaCO3) 12.3
Concentration #tg L'I )a
pH
Duration
Effect
6.56.6
60 days
48% dead 3% dead 24% reduction in weight 4% reduction in weight 0% dead 58% dead 2% dead 100% dead
6.5 6.5 7.2 7.2
7 days
350 169 169
Reference
Cleveland et al., (manuscript)
88 87.2 174A 174A 348.8
Buckler et al. (manuscript)
54
The toxicity of aluminium to aquatic species in the US
References Biesinger, K.E. and Christensen, G.M. 1972. Effects of various metals on survival, growth, reproduction and metabolism of Daphnia magn~ J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 29, 1691-1700. Boyd, C.E. 1979. Aluminum sulfate (alum) for precipitating clay turbidity from fish ponds. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., I08, 30"/-313. Brooke, L 1985. University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WI. (Memorandum to C. Stephan, US EPA, Duluth, MN, July 25.) Buckler, D.R., Mehrle, P.M., Cleveland, L. and Dwyer, FJ. Manuscript. Influence of pH on the toxicity of aluminum and other inorganic contaminants to east coast striped bass. Columbia National Fisheries Research Laboratory, Columbia, MO. Call, DJ. 1984. University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WL (Memorandum to C. Stephan, US EPA, Duluth, MN, November 27.) Cleveland, L., Little, E.E., Wiedmyer, R.H. and Buckler, D.R. Manuscript. Chronic no-observed-effeet concentrations of aluminum for brook trout exposed in dilute acid water. National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center, Columbia, MO. Decker, C. and Menendez, IL 1974. Acute toxicity of iron and aluminum to brook trout. Proc. W. Va. Acad. Sci., 46, 159-167. Kimball, G. Manuscript. The Effects of Lesser Known Metals and One Organic to Fathead ML~.nows (Pimephales promelas) and Daphnia magna. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Lamb, D.S. and Bailey, G.C. 1981. Acute and chronic effects of alum
to midge larva (Diptera: Chironomidae). Bull. Environ. Contain. Toxicol., 27, 59-67. McCanley, DJ., Brooke, LT., Call, D.J. and Lindberg, C.A. 1986. Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Aluminum to Ceriodaphnia dubia at Various pH's. University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WI. Peterson, S.A., Sanville, W.D., Stay, F.S. and Powers, C.F. 1974. Nutrient inactivation as a lake restoration procedure. Laboratory investigations. EPA-660/3-74-032. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA. Rao, V.N.R. and Subramanian, S.K. 1982. Metal toxicity tests on growth of some diatoms. Acta Bot. Indica, 10, 274-281. Smith, L L , Jr., Oseid, D.M., Kimball, G.L and E1-Kandelgy, S.M. 1976. Toxicity of hydrogen sulfide to various life history stages of bluegill (Lempom/s macrochirus). Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 105, 442-449. Stanley, R.A. 1974. Toxicity of heavy metals and salts to Eurasian watermilfoil (MyriophyUum spicatum L.). Arch. Environ. Contain. Toxicol., 2, 331-341. Stephan, C.E., Mount, D.I., Hansen, DJ., Gentile, J.H., Chapman, G.A. and Bmngs, W.A. 1985. Guidelines for deriving numerical national water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms and their uses. PB85-227049. National Technical Information Service. Springfield, VA. U.S. EPA. 1988. Ambient Water Qualky Criteria for Aluminium. EPA-440/5-86-008.
