Integral Study of Paramecium caudatum Acute and Chronic Toxicity, Sites of Entry and Distribution, Bioconcentration and Body Burdens of Five Metals.

An integral analysis of the acute and chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation, sites of entry, and distribution of four trace metals: copper, iron, lead, and nickel, and the non-trace metal mercury were performed in the ciliate Paramecium caudatum. Mercury was the fastest metal accumulated, and the most toxic. The sensitivity of Paramecium caudatum to the five metals tested (Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, and Zn) falls in the range of other ciliate species.

Evaluation of bioconcentration and toxicity of five metals in the freshwater rotifer Euchlanis dilatata Ehrenberg, 1832.

Metals are widely used in modern society harming the environment; their toxicity cause environmental adverse effects to many organisms including zooplankton. This contribution employed: (a) acute and chronic toxicity tests, (b) epifluorescence image analysis, and (c) atomic absorption techniques, to analyze toxicity of four trace (copper, iron, nickel, and zinc), and one non-trace metals (mercury) on the freshwater rotifer Euchlanis dilatata. This work integrated results of Bioconcentration Factors (BCF's), sites of entry and accumulation and to determine mechanisms of uptake and toxicity of these five metals of the freshwater rotifer Euchlanis dilatata.

Determination of toxicity levels in the San Pedro River Watershed, Aguascalientes, Mexico.

A quantitative study of toxicity levels of the San Pedro River and its main tributaries around the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico was conducted. Our study determined individual CL(50) values for each sampling point at 3 different times of the year corresponding to the main seasons of the year in terms of the hydrological cycle (dry, low rain and high rain season). Those LC(50) values were used to calculate the acute.