Effects of Variable Hardness, pH, Alkalinity, Suspended Clay, and Humics on the Chemical Speciation and Aquatic Toxicity of Copper

摘要

The effects of variable hardness, pH, alkalinity, humics, and suspended clay on the chemical speciation of copper and its toxicity to fathead minnow larvae in Lake Superior water were investigated. Two proposed methods (toxicity factors and chemical speciation) for predicting LC50 values in specific natural waters from laboratory toxicity data and the average site specific values of general water quality parameters were evaluated. The accuracy of the cupric ion selective electrode in determining CU+2 activities in ambient and chemically altered Lake Superior water was also determined.