Validation of Nickel Bioavailability Models for Algae, Invertebrates, and Fish in Chinese Surface Waters

摘要

Nickel (Ni) is used primarily in the production of alloys like stainless steel and is increasingly being used in theproduction of batteries for the electric vehicle market. Exposure of Ni to ecosystems is of concern because Ni can be toxic toaquatic organisms. The influence of water chemistry constituents (e.g., hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon) on thetoxicity of Ni has prompted the development and use of bioavailability models, such as biotic ligand models (BLMs), whichhave been demonstrated to accurately predict Ni toxicity in broadly different ecosystems, including Europe, North America,and Australia. China, a leading producer of Ni, is considering bioavailability‐based approaches for regulating Ni emissions.Adoption of bioavailability‐based approaches in China requires information to demonstrate the validity of bioavailabilitymodels for the local water chemistry conditions. The present study investigates the toxicity of Ni to three standard testspecies (Daphnia magna, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Danio rerio) in field‐collected natural waters that are broadlyrepresentative of the range of water chemistries and bioavailabilities encountered in Chinese lakes and rivers. All experimentaldata are within a factor of 3 of the BLM predicted values for all tests with all species. For D. magna, six of sevenwaters were predicted within a factor of 2 of the experimental result. Comparison of experimental data against BLMpredictions shows that the existing Ni bioavailability models are able to explain the differences in toxicity that result fromwater chemistry conditions in China. Validation of bioavailability models to water chemistries and bioavailability ranges withinChina provides technical support for the derivation of site‐specific Ni water quality criteria in China.