Toxicity of uranium and copper individually, and in combination, to a tropical freshwater macrophyte (Lemna aequinoctialis)

Copper (Cu) and uranium (U) are of potential ecotoxicological concern to tropical freshwater biota in northern Australia, as a result of mining activities. Few data are available on the toxicity of U, and no data are available on the toxic interaction of Cu and U, to freshwater biota. This study determined the toxicity of Cu and U individually, and in combination, to a tropical freshwater macrophyte, Lemna aequinoctialis (duckweed), in a synthetic soft water (27 °C; pH, 6.5; hardness, 40 mg CaCO3 l−1, alkalinity, 16 mg CaCO3 l−1), typical of many fresh surface waters in coastal northern Australia. The growth rate of L. aequinoctialis decreased with increasing Cu or U concentrations, with the concentration of Cu inhibiting growth by 50% (EC50) being 16 ± 1.0 μg l−1, with a minimum detectable effect concentration (MDEC) of 3.2 μg l−1. The concentration of U inhibiting growth by 50% (EC50) was 758 ± 35 μg l−1 with a MDEC of 112 μg l−1. The EC50 value for the exposure of L. aequinoctialis to equitoxic mixtures of Cu and U was significantly (P less-than-or-equals, slant 0.05) higher than one toxic unit (1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–1.52), indicating that the combined effects of Cu and U are less than additive (antagonistic). Therefore, inhibition of the growth rate of L. aequinoctialis was reduced when Cu and U were present in equitoxic mixtures, relative to individual metal exposures. Since non-additive (e.g. antagonistic) interactions of metal mixtures cannot be predicted using current mixture models, these results have important potential implications for the protection of freshwater ecosystems through the derivation of national water quality guidelines.