Acute toxicity of some heavy metals to different species of aquatic insects

Abstract

Two generalities might be drawn from these results: (a) the species of mayfly used was the most sensitive of the insects tested to all the metals that were checked; and (b) the insects seem to be less sensitive to the heavy metals than many fish that have been tested. As is the case with fish, relative toxicity of the heavy metals to aquatic insects varied widely with the test species. Therefore, statements comparing the toxicity of the metals to aquatic insects should indicate the test species and, conversely, the relative resistance of two species should be compared only for a specific toxicant. These TL/sub m/ values are a measure of the toxicity of some metals to certain aquatic insects under the experimental conditions specified. Such concentrations could be expected to cause mortality under most environmental conditions even for short exposure.