Bioavailability and ecotoxicity of metals in aquatic systems: critical levels of pollution

Abstract

The bioavailability and ecotoxicity of metals depending on the geochemical factors of the aquatic environment are considered. For the most metals free ions have the greatest penetration with the exception of some mercury organometallic complexes it has been shown. The models for assessing the danger of pollution of the aquatic environment with metals based on thermodynamic calculations of free ions concentration, the ability of biological receptors to bind them and the toxicological properties of metals, are analyzed. The main mechanisms of penetration and elimination of metals and the cytotoxicity of non-essential elements are considered. A new method for determining critical levels of polymetallic water pollution based on measurements of the complexing ability of waters components and establishing dose-effect relationships between integral indicators of polymetallic water pollution and indicators of ecosystem “health” of ecosystems based on research in the Kola North are presented.