Predicting single and mixture toxicity of petrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the copepod Oithona davisae

• DOI: 10.1897/05-189r.1
• Publication Date: 2005-10-13T18:45:19Z
• Authors: Carlos Barata; Albert Calbet; Enric Saiz; Laura Ortiz; Josep Maria Bayona
• Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

Abstract In the present study, acute toxicity of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with Prestige fuel oil spill (Spain, 2002) were evaluated, either as single substances or in mixtures, adults copepod Oithona davisae . All but dimethylphenanthrene had negative effects on O. survival at concentrations below their water solubility, 48‐h median lethal for naphthalene and pyrene 56.1 0.8 μmol/L, respectively, making these least most toxic compounds. Polycyclic narcotic copepods, evidenced by lack motility lower than those causing death. Naphthalene showed greatest effects, phenanthrene minor effects. Acute tested PAHs was inversely related ( r 2 = 0.9) octanol—water partition coefficient, thereby confirming validity baseline quantitative structure—activity regression models predicting PAH compounds species. When supplied effect additive. These results indicate that many an can be considered unambiguous toxicants (class 1) acting additively nonpolar narcotics copepods; hence, individual combined predicted using coefficient.