Effect of Aluminum Concentration in Water on Its Toxicity and Bioaccumulation in Zooplankton (Chaoborus and Chironomus) and Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Roe.

Abstract

An attempt to evaluate aluminum toxicity to living organisms was undertaken in the study. A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine aluminum bioaccumulation and toxicity in Chironomus and Chaoborus larvae and in Cyprinus carpio L. roe depending on aluminum concentration in water reflecting natural chemical composition. Water was examined for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, color, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, sulfates by spectrophotometric method; total hardness and chlorides by titration method; and calcium, magnesium, sodium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, total aluminum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Determination of aluminum levels in water, roe, and zooplankton was carried out after mineralization using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Aluminum bioaccumulation factor in roe was determined with respect to concentration in water. Moreover, acute toxicity (LC50) was calculated. In the roe experiment, aluminum concentration in water at the end of the experiment was 0.0635-0.1283 mgAl∙dm^-3. The lowest values were noted for the control sample and the highest for water with 0.03 mgAl∙dm^-3 aluminum content. The final aluminum level in roe was, like in water, the highest in roe treated with 0.03 mgAl∙dm^-3 (18.95 mgAl∙kg^-1), and the lowest in roe treated with 3.00 mgAl∙dm^-3 (6.96 mgAl∙kg^-1). Aluminum bioaccumulation in roe was the strongest in the control. Survival rate ranged from 2.00 to 97.00%, which shows higher sensitivity of roe to aluminum concentration. LC50 value for Chaoborus was 0.6464 mgAl⋅dm^-3, and for Chironomus 0.2076 mgAl⋅dm^-3 indicating that Chironomus is more sensitive to aluminum toxic effects. Concentration of 3.0 mgAl∙dm^-3 caused the highest mortality. Aluminum in both species at each concentration reached the highest levels after one day (24 h), 254.58 mg⋅kg^-1 for Chaoborus and 3107 mg⋅kg^-1 for Chironomus. After another day, aluminum levels decreased. This demonstrated the differential accumulation of aluminum depending on the species, which predisposes Chironomus as a better indicator organism. This type of research is important from the point of view of aquaculture, which is a targeted activity with a high degree of economic importance, but is also important for aquatic organisms living in natural conditions. Fish reproduction takes place in both types of waters, so all these reservoirs regardless of their source of destination should be inspected.