Publication
Title
The effect of metal mixture composition on toxicity to **C. elegans** at individual and population levels
Author
Abstract
The toxicity of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd) to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was characterised under single metal and mixture scenarios at different organisational levels. The effects on population size and body length were investigated at two concentrations corresponding to the 24 h LC5 and LC20 levels. Metal toxicity was dependent on metal concentration, exposure time and mixture composition. Populations exposed to LC20 levels of Cd, ZnCu, CuCd and ZnCuCd plummeted, while for all LC5 concentrations, population size continued to increase, albeit that single metals were less harmful than mixtures. Combinations of the LC20 concentration of Cd with a range of Zn concentrations showed concentration dependent mitigating effects on population size and antagonistic effects on mortality. By combining effects at different organisational levels, more insight into metal toxicity was obtained. Metal effects were more evident on population size than on body length or mortality, suggesting that population size could be considered as a sensitive endpoint. Furthermore, our observations of ZnCd mixture effects at the individual and population levels are consistent with literature data on the dose-dependent expression of the cdf-2 gene, which is involved in mediation of Zn and Cd toxicity.
Language
English
Source (journal)
PLoS ONE
Publication
2019
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0218929
Volume/pages
14 :6 (2019) , 23 p.
Article Reference
e0218929
ISI
000484856000052
Pubmed ID
31237916
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Aquatic systems under multiple stress: a new paradigm for integration aquaculture and ecotoxicology research.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 26.06.2019
Last edited 25.11.2024
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