MONODONTA-TURBINATA (BORN) - TOXICITY AND BIOACCUMULATION OF CU AND CU+CR MIXTURES

The effects of copper and chromium are studied on the cosmopolite mari ne prosobranch Monodonta turbinata (Born). The influence of Cu and of the mixture Cu + Cr was tested by the determination of the LC50 (48 h) , the LT50, the respiration and bioaccumulation rates. The tested conc entrations of metals caused a significant reduction of the respiration rate of Monodonta. Cu accumulates progressively in the tissues of the prosobranch proportionally to the Cu concentrations of the tested med ia. In all experiments [LC50 (48 h), LT50, oxygen consumption and bioa ccumulation] when Cu and Cr act jointly, an antagonism is observed: th e mixtures caused less pronounced effects than Cu and Cr acting alone. Generally Monodonta was found to be much more sensitive to Cu than ot her benthic species.