Assessing the toxicity of arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals with the bio-indicator Corophium volutator
Longpeng Cui A B C , Chris Newcombe C , Dagmar S. Urgast C , Andrea Raab C , Eva M. Krupp C D and Jörg Feldmann C E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, P. R. China.
B School of Earth and Environmental Science, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, P. R. China.
C Trace Element Speciation Laboratory Aberdeen (TESLA), Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, Scotland, UK.
D Aberdeen Centre of Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen,AB24 2UU, Scotland, UK.
E Corresponding author. Email: j.feldmann@abdn.ac.uk
We dedicate this paper to the memory of the late Professor Kaise in recognition of his lifelong work on environmental arsenic chemistry.
Environmental Chemistry 8(1) 52-61 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN10044
Submitted: 4 May 2010 Accepted: 19 August 2010 Published: 28 February 2011
Environmental context. Risk identification and characterisation of As-bearing sulfide minerals, the most important natural source of arsenic pollution, is significant in pollution control and risk management at mine sites. Bioassays constitute a cost-efficient approach to toxicity testing because they give an integrated picture of the biologically available fraction thereby allowing predictions of the potential combined effects of contaminants in testing mixtures.
Abstract. A sediment-based toxicity test was designed to investigate the biological response of the amphipod Corophium volutator exposed to three common arsenic minerals, namely realgar (AsS), orpiment (As2S3) and arsenopyrite (Fe[AsS]). The LD50 for the loaded minerals and the added As in the sediment showed mineral-dependent toxicities increasing in the order of AsS ≈ As2S3 < Fe[AsS] (224–1329 mg As kg–1). The exposed animals accumulated arsenic in a mineral-dependent manner similar to the observed toxicity, with AsS ≈ As2S3 and both higher than that for Fe[AsS]. The arsenic concentration in C. volutator at the LD50 exposure exhibits the same mineral independences, confirming that the response is arsenic specific. A significant increase in extractable inorganic arsenic in the tissue (over 100-fold) at higher arsenic exposures (up to 3% mineral-loading, w/w) was revealed hence no significant biotransformation of inorganic arsenic. C. volutator is sensitive to arsenic and has the potential to be used as a bio-indicator to assess the toxicity of arsenic-containing sediments or arsenic-containing mining wastes.
Additional keywords: bioaccumulation, biotransformation, speciation.
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