Toxicity of Copper and Cadmium to Freshwater Fishes
Two freshwater fishes, Rasbora sumatrana
(Cyprinidae) and Poecilia reticulata (guppy) (Poeciliidae) were
exposed for a four-day period in the laboratory condition to a range
of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Mortality was
assessed and median lethal concentrations (LC50) were calculated.
LC50 increased with decrease in mean exposure times for both metals.
For R. sumatrana, LC50s for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours for Cu were
54.2, 30.3, 18.9 and 5.6 μg/L and for Cd 1440.2, 459.3, 392.3 and
101.6 μg/L respectively. For P. reticulata, LC50s for 24, 48, 72 and
96 hours for Cu were 348.9, 145.4, 61.3 and 37.9 μg/L and for Cd
8205.6, 2827.1, 405.8 and 168.1 μg/L, respectively. Results indicated
that the Cu was more toxic than Cd to both fishes (Cu>Cd) and R.
sumatrana was more sensitive than P. reticulata to the metals.
[1] P. Calow, General principles and overview. In: P. Calow (Ed.),
Handbook of Ecotoxicology, Vol. I.Blackwell Scientific Publ., 1993.
[2] G.M. Rand, P.G. Wells and L.S. McCarty, Introduction to aquatic
toxicology. In: G.M. Rand, (Ed.), Fundamental of Aquatic Toxicology:
Effects, Environmental fate and Risk assessment, 2 nd ed. Taylor &
Francis, 1995, pp. 3-67.
[3] S. Hirano, S. Sakai, H. Ebihara, N. Kodama, and K.T. Suzuki. (1990).
Metabolism and pulmonary toxicity of intratracheally instilled cupric
sulfate in rats. Toxicology 64. pp 223-233.
[4] J.F. McCarty and L.R. Shugart, Biomarkers of Environmental
Contamination. Lewis Publishers, Florida, 1990.
[5] T.J. Lichfield. (1949). A method for the rapid graphic solution of timepercentage
effect curves. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 97. pp 399-408.
[6] T.J. Lichfield and F. Wilcoxon. (1949). A simplified method of
evaluating dose-effect experiments. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 96. pp
99-113.
[7] H. Park and G.J. Heo. (2009). Acute and subacute toxicity of copper
culfate pentahydrate in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). J. Vet. Med.
Sci. 71(3). pp 333-336.
[8] M. Y─▒lmaz, A. Gul and E. Karakose (2004). Investigation of acute
toxicity and the effect of cadmium chloride metal salt on behavior of
the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).Chemosphere 56. pp 375-380.
[9] L.C. Gomes, A.R. Chippari-Gomes, R.N. Oss, L.F.L. Fernandes and R
de A. Magris.(2009). Acute toxicity of copper and cadmium for piauçu,
Leporinus macrocephalus, and curimatã, Prochilodus vimboides . Acta
Scientiarum - Biological Sciences 31 (3). pp 313-315.
[10] P.V. Hodson, D.G. Dixon, D.J. Spray, D.M. Whittle and J.B. Sprague.
(1982). Effect of growth rate and size of fish on rate of intoxication by
waterborne lead. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 39. pp 1243-1251.
[11] C.P. McCahon and D. Pascoe. (1988). Use of Gamarus pulex (L.) in
safety evaluation test: Culture and selection of a sensitive life stage.
Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 15. pp 245-252.
[12] R. Jindal and A. Verma. (1999). Heavy metals toxicity to Daphnia
pulex. Ind. J. Environ. Health 82. pp 289-292.
[13] U. Borgmann, W.P. Norwood and C. Clarke. (1993). Accumulation,
regulation and toxicity of copper, zinc, lead and mercury in Hyalella
azteca. Hydrobiologia 259. pp 79-89.
[14] M. Shuhaimi-Othman and D. Pascoe. (2001). Acute toxicity of
copper, zinc and cadmium to the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca.
Malaysian Applied Biology 30 (1&2). pp 1-8.
[15] C.J. Keppler and A.H. Ringwood. (2002). Effects of metal exposure on
juvenile clams, Mercenaria mercenaria. Bull. Environ. Contam.
Toxicol. 68. pp 43-48.
[16] S. Khan and D. Nugegoda. (2007). Sensitivity of juvenile freshwater
Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae) to trace metals.
Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 68. pp 463-469.
[17] G. Roesijadi. (19920. Metallothioneins in metal regulation and toxicity
in aquatic animals. Aquat. Toxicol. 22. pp 81-114.
[18] L. Hollis, C. Hogstrand and C.M. Wood. (2001). Tissue specific
cadmium accumulation, metallothionein induction, and tissue zinc and
copper levels during chronic sublethal cadmium exposure in juvenile
rainbow trout. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 41. pp 468-474.
[1] P. Calow, General principles and overview. In: P. Calow (Ed.),
Handbook of Ecotoxicology, Vol. I.Blackwell Scientific Publ., 1993.
[2] G.M. Rand, P.G. Wells and L.S. McCarty, Introduction to aquatic
toxicology. In: G.M. Rand, (Ed.), Fundamental of Aquatic Toxicology:
Effects, Environmental fate and Risk assessment, 2 nd ed. Taylor &
Francis, 1995, pp. 3-67.
[3] S. Hirano, S. Sakai, H. Ebihara, N. Kodama, and K.T. Suzuki. (1990).
Metabolism and pulmonary toxicity of intratracheally instilled cupric
sulfate in rats. Toxicology 64. pp 223-233.
[4] J.F. McCarty and L.R. Shugart, Biomarkers of Environmental
Contamination. Lewis Publishers, Florida, 1990.
[5] T.J. Lichfield. (1949). A method for the rapid graphic solution of timepercentage
effect curves. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 97. pp 399-408.
[6] T.J. Lichfield and F. Wilcoxon. (1949). A simplified method of
evaluating dose-effect experiments. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 96. pp
99-113.
[7] H. Park and G.J. Heo. (2009). Acute and subacute toxicity of copper
culfate pentahydrate in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). J. Vet. Med.
Sci. 71(3). pp 333-336.
[8] M. Y─▒lmaz, A. Gul and E. Karakose (2004). Investigation of acute
toxicity and the effect of cadmium chloride metal salt on behavior of
the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).Chemosphere 56. pp 375-380.
[9] L.C. Gomes, A.R. Chippari-Gomes, R.N. Oss, L.F.L. Fernandes and R
de A. Magris.(2009). Acute toxicity of copper and cadmium for piauçu,
Leporinus macrocephalus, and curimatã, Prochilodus vimboides . Acta
Scientiarum - Biological Sciences 31 (3). pp 313-315.
[10] P.V. Hodson, D.G. Dixon, D.J. Spray, D.M. Whittle and J.B. Sprague.
(1982). Effect of growth rate and size of fish on rate of intoxication by
waterborne lead. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 39. pp 1243-1251.
[11] C.P. McCahon and D. Pascoe. (1988). Use of Gamarus pulex (L.) in
safety evaluation test: Culture and selection of a sensitive life stage.
Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 15. pp 245-252.
[12] R. Jindal and A. Verma. (1999). Heavy metals toxicity to Daphnia
pulex. Ind. J. Environ. Health 82. pp 289-292.
[13] U. Borgmann, W.P. Norwood and C. Clarke. (1993). Accumulation,
regulation and toxicity of copper, zinc, lead and mercury in Hyalella
azteca. Hydrobiologia 259. pp 79-89.
[14] M. Shuhaimi-Othman and D. Pascoe. (2001). Acute toxicity of
copper, zinc and cadmium to the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca.
Malaysian Applied Biology 30 (1&2). pp 1-8.
[15] C.J. Keppler and A.H. Ringwood. (2002). Effects of metal exposure on
juvenile clams, Mercenaria mercenaria. Bull. Environ. Contam.
Toxicol. 68. pp 43-48.
[16] S. Khan and D. Nugegoda. (2007). Sensitivity of juvenile freshwater
Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae) to trace metals.
Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 68. pp 463-469.
[17] G. Roesijadi. (19920. Metallothioneins in metal regulation and toxicity
in aquatic animals. Aquat. Toxicol. 22. pp 81-114.
[18] L. Hollis, C. Hogstrand and C.M. Wood. (2001). Tissue specific
cadmium accumulation, metallothionein induction, and tissue zinc and
copper levels during chronic sublethal cadmium exposure in juvenile
rainbow trout. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 41. pp 468-474.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:52063", author = "M. Shuhaimi-Othman and Y. Nadzifah and A.K. Ahmad", title = "Toxicity of Copper and Cadmium to Freshwater Fishes", abstract = "Two freshwater fishes, Rasbora sumatrana
(Cyprinidae) and Poecilia reticulata (guppy) (Poeciliidae) were
exposed for a four-day period in the laboratory condition to a range
of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Mortality was
assessed and median lethal concentrations (LC50) were calculated.
LC50 increased with decrease in mean exposure times for both metals.
For R. sumatrana, LC50s for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours for Cu were
54.2, 30.3, 18.9 and 5.6 μg/L and for Cd 1440.2, 459.3, 392.3 and
101.6 μg/L respectively. For P. reticulata, LC50s for 24, 48, 72 and
96 hours for Cu were 348.9, 145.4, 61.3 and 37.9 μg/L and for Cd
8205.6, 2827.1, 405.8 and 168.1 μg/L, respectively. Results indicated
that the Cu was more toxic than Cd to both fishes (Cu>Cd) and R.
sumatrana was more sensitive than P. reticulata to the metals.", keywords = "Acute, heavy metals, LT50, toxicity", volume = "4", number = "5", pages = "232-3", }
