Blust, R.

De Schamphelaere, K.

Deruytter, D.

Garrevoet, J.

Janssen, C.R.

Vandegehuchte, M.

Vergucht, E.

Vincze, L.

Open Marine Archive

 - 40 -  
The combined effects of DOC and salinity on the accumulation and 
toxicity of copper in mussel larvae  
Deruytter David
1
, Michiel Vandegehuchte
1
, Jan Garrevoet
2
, Eva Vergucht
2
, Ronny Blust
3
,  
Karel De Schamphelaere
1
, Laszlo Vincze
2
 and Colin R. Janssen
1
 
1 
Laboratory of Environmental Toxicicology and Aquatic Ecology, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 
Ghent, Belgium 
E-mail: David.Deruytter@ugent.be   
2
 X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium 
3 
Systemic Physiological & Ecotoxicological Research, Groenenborgerlaan 171/U7, 2020 Antwerp, 
Belgium 
 
The biotic ligand model (BLM) is widely used to predict the toxicity of metals. There are two main 
principles underlying this model: 1) the concentration at the biotic ligand (BL) is directly related to 
the adverse effects and 2) the concentration at the BL depends on the dissolved metal concentration 
and the water chemistry. The latter determines the complexation of the metals with dissolved 
organic carbon (DOC), anions or other ligands and the competition of the metals with cations at the 
BL. However, recent studies indicate that in marine or estuarine environments, a changing salinity 
(ion concentration) can also affect metal toxicity by influencing the physiology of organisms. 
 
The goal of the present study was: 1) assess the combined effects of DOC and salinity on the 
accumulation and toxicity of Cu in mussel larvae and 2) evaluate if these results are in agreement 
with the BLM principles. Mussel embryos were exposed to 9 different DOC/salinity combinations. 
For each combination a Cu concentration response curve was constructed and an EC50 for normal 
development was calculated. The internal Cu concentration and distribution in a subset of larvae 
from each DOC/salinity treatment was determined by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence 
spectroscopy.  
 
Cu in the larvae was homogeneously distributed. Both DOC concentration and salinity had a 
significant effect on the toxicity of Cu. The toxicity and accumulation of Cu decreased significantly 
when DOC concentrations increased. Salinity had a non linear effect on the Cu EC50 with a 
maximum EC50 at 28psu, while Cu accumulation increased with increasing salinity. This indicates 
that salinity does not only influence the water chemistry, but may also influence the physiology of 
the larvae. When relating the internal Cu concentration directly to the toxicity, no significant 
influence of DOC concentration nor salinity was detected. This result indicates that the critical body 
burden (CBB) concept might be a useful basis to predict copper toxicity, i.e. that the whole larval 
body could be considered as the BL. Concentration response analysis resulted in a CBB EC50 of 
10.5µg Cu.g
-1
 larvae. In conclusion, a larva can be regarded as a BL, in which the Cu concentration is 
directly related to toxic effects. In agreement with the BLM principles DOC reduces the accumulation 
and the adverse effect. However salinity influences both accumulation and toxic effects in a way 
that is not accounted for in classical BLM type models. 


The combined effects of DOC and salinity on the accumulation and toxicity of copper in mussel larvae

The combined effects of DOC and salinity on the accumulation and toxicity of copper in mussel larvae

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