Influence of humic substances on the toxic effects of cadmium and SDBS to the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

The joint toxicity of chemicals mixture in the aquatic environment was still not well clear. To clarify the joint toxicity of the mixtures of metals and organic pollutants, as well as the influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in field water-body on their toxic effects, we conducted the toxicity tests with cadmium (Cd) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) on Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus) with or without the presence of fulvic acid (FA), a typical of DOM. Our results showed Cd was more toxic to S. obliquus than SDBS, and the effects of fulvic acid on SDBS were greater than Cd. The joint toxicity of Cd and SDBS expressed a synergistic effect on S. obliquus, which was observed to be increased with the presence of FA. Our results gave an example for the joint toxicity investigations of organics and metals, aiding to understanding the toxicity of pollutant mixtures in field water bodies containing DOM.

Joint toxicity of cadmium and SDBS on Daphnia magna and Danio rerio

Information on joint toxicity is limited. To clarify the joint toxicity and the interactions among toxicants on different aquatic organisms, we investigated the acute toxicity of cadmium and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, two chemicals with high concerns in Chinese waters, on the immobilization of Daphnia magna (D. magna) and the swimming behavior of Danio rerio (D. rerio). Our results illustrated that cadmium and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate expressed a synergistic effect on the immobilization of D. magna; and an antagonistic effect on the swimming speed D. rerio, but a synergistic effect on its vertical position in the water column. Based on the observed data, we found the independent action model was more appropriate than the concentration addition model in the prediction of their joint toxicity. Our results gave an example of the joint toxicity investigation, and aided to comprehensive the toxicity action mode of chemical mixtures.