The Relation Between the Electrolytic Solution Pressures of the Metals and Their Toxicity to the Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus L.)

Abstract

1. Lethal concentration limits have been determined for the hydrogen ion and the ions of eighteen metals. The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) has been employed as test animal. 2. According to their lethal concentration limits on a mg./l. basis their order of increasing toxicity is: Sr Ca Na Ba Mg K Mn'' Co'' Cr''' Ni'' Au''' Zn Cd'' Pb'' Al Cu'' H Hg'' Ag. 3. On a molar concentration basis the order is as follows: Na Ca Sr Mg Ba K Mn'' Co'' Cr''' Ni'' H Zn Al Au''' Cd'' Pb'' Cu'' Hg'' Ag. 4. All these ions, with the exception of the first six (the metals of the alkalis and alkaline earths), bring about the death of fish by precipitating the gill secretions, thus causing asphyxiation. The alkali and alkaline earth metals appear to enter the body and act as true internal poisons. 5. The position of iron is uncertain. The toxicity of solutions of iron salts appears to be due, mainly if not entirely, to their acidity. 6. On a mg./l. or molar concentration basis there is a marked relationship between the toxicity of the metals and their solution pressures. The metals of very low solution pressure (Ag, Cu, etc.), i.e. those whose ions are most ready to part with their charges and enter into combination with other ions or compounds, are the most toxic as they precipitate the gill secretions and bring about asphyxiation with extreme rapidity. Metals of somewhat higher solution pressure (Zn, Pb, Cd) act in the same way but more slowly. Manganese, which of all the heavy metals has the highest solution pressure, takes effect very slowly and the ions of the alkali and alkaline earth metals, which have a high affinity for their charges, do not precipitate the gill secretions at all. 7. In the case of all the ions other than those of the alkali and alkaline earth metals the reactions responsible for the death of the fish take place outside the body. Thus their speed of action does not depend on their penetrating power and the permeability factor does not enter. This is probably responsible in great measure for the good agreement observed between their toxicity and their affinity for their electrical charges.