United States Office of Water EPA-822-R-01-001 

 Environmental Protection Agency 4304 April 2001 

 

 

2001 Update of Ambient

Water Quality Criteria

for Cadmium
EPA-822-R-01-001

April 2001

2001 UPDATE OF AMBIENT WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR

CADMIUM

(CAS Registry Number 7440-43-9)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Water

Office of Science and Technology

Washington, D.C.
ii

NOTICES

This document has been reviewed by the Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Science

and Technology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and is approved for publication.

Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or

recommendation for use.

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service

(NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.
iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Document Update: 1984

John G. Eaton

(freshwater author)

Environmental Research Laboratory

Duluth, Minnesota

John H. Gentile

(saltwater author)

Environmental Research Laboratory

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Charles E. Stephan

(document coordinator)

Environmental Research Laboratory

Duluth, Minnesota

David J. Hansen

(saltwater coordinator)

Environmental Research Laboratory

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Statistical Support: John W. Rogers

Clerical Support: Terry L. Highland

Document Update: 2001

Gregory J. Smith

(freshwater contributor)

Great Lakes Environmental Center

Columbus, Ohio

Cindy Roberts

(document coordinator)

U.S. EPA

Health and Ecological Effects Criteria Division

Washington, D.C.

Statistical Support: Dan Tholen, Great Lakes Environmental Center, Traverse City, Michigan
iv

CONTENTS

Page

Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

Tables ...................................................................... v

Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Introduction .................................................................. 1

Acute Toxicity to Freshwater Animals ............................................. 3

Acute Toxicity to Saltwater Animals .............................................. 9

Chronic Toxicity to Freshwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Chronic Toxicity to Saltwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Toxicity to Aquatic Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Bioaccumulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Other Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Unused Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

National Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
v

TABLES

1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

1c. Results of Covariance Analysis of Freshwater Acute Toxicity Versus Hardness . . . . . . 65

1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

2a. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

2b. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

2c. Results of Covariance Analysis of Freshwater Chronic Toxicity Versus Hardness . . . . . 78

2d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Chronic Cadmium Hardness Slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

2e. Cadmium Acute-Chronic Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios 80

3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios 86

3c. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Chronic Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

3d. Freshwater and Saltwater Cadmium Criteria Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

4a. Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

4b. Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

5b. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Saltwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
vi

FIGURES

1. Comparison of All Table 1 Freshwater Acute Toxicity Test EC50s and LC50s with the 

Hardness Slope Derived CMC (2001 CMC: solid line; 1984 CMC: dashed line) . . . . . . 33

2. Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs (Freshwater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

3. Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs (Saltwater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

4. Comparison of All Table 2 Freshwater Chronic Values with the Hardness Slope Derived CCC 

(2001 CMC: solid line; 1984 CMC: dashed line) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

5. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Aquatic Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

6. Comparison of Freshwater Plant Toxicity Values (Table 4) and Freshwater CMC and 

CCC Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

7. Comparison of Saltwater Plant Toxicity Values (Table 4) and Saltwater CMC and 

CCC Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
1 An understanding of the “Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the

Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses” (Stephan et al. 1985), hereafter referred to as the Guidelines, is

necessary in order to understand the following text, tables, and calculations.

1

INTRODUCTION1

This update document provides guidance to States and Tribes authorized to establish water

quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect aquatic life from acute and chronic

effects of cadmium. Under the CWA, States and Tribes are to establish water quality criteria to

protect designated uses. While this document constitutes U.S. EPA’s scientific recommendations

regarding ambient concentrations of cadmium, this document does not substitute for the CWA or

U.S. EPA’s regulations; nor is it a regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally binding

requirements on U.S. EPA, States, Tribes, or the regulated community, and might not apply to a

particular situation based upon the circumstances. State and Tribal decision-makers retain the

discretion to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ from this guidance when

appropriate. U.S. EPA may change this guidance in the future.

Cadmium is a relatively rare element that is a minor nutrient for plants at low

concentrations (Lane and Morel 2000; Lee et al. 1995; Price and Morel 1990), but is toxic to

aquatic life at concentrations only slightly higher. It occurs mainly as a component of minerals in

the earth’s crust at an average concentration of 0.18 ppm (Babich and Stotzky 1978). Cadmium

levels in soils usually range from approximately 0.01 to 1.8 ppm (Lagerwerff and Specht 1970). In

natural freshwaters, cadmium sometimes occurs at concentrations of less than 0.1 μg/L, but in

environments impacted by man, concentrations can be several micrograms per liter or greater

(Abbasi and Soni 1986; Allen 1994; Annune et al. 1994; Flick et al. 1971; Friberg et al. 1971;

Henriksen and Wright 1978; Nilsson 1970; Spry and Wiener 1991). Cadmium can enter the

environment from various anthropogenic sources, such as by-products from zinc refining, coal

combustion, mine wastes, electroplating processes, iron and steel production, pigments, fertilizers

and pesticides (Hutton 1983; Pickering and Gast 1972). 

The impact of cadmium on aquatic organisms depends on a variety of possible chemical

forms of cadmium (Callahan et al. 1979), which can have different toxicities and bioconcentration
2

factors. In most well oxygenated freshwaters that are low in total organic carbon, free divalent

cadmium will be the predominant form. Precipitation by carbonate or hydroxide and formation of

soluble complexes by chloride, sulfate, carbonate, and hydroxide should usually be of little

importance. In saltwaters with salinities from about 10 to 35 g/kg, cadmium chloride complexes

predominate. In both fresh and saltwaters, particulate matter and dissolved organic material may

bind a substantial portion of the cadmium, and under these conditions cadmium may not be

bioavailable due to this binding (Callahan et al. 1979; Kramer et al. 1997).

Because of the variety of forms of cadmium (Callahan et al. 1979) and lack of definitive

information about their relative toxicities, no available analytical measurement is known to be ideal

for expressing aquatic life criteria for cadmium. Previous aquatic life criteria for cadmium (U.S.

EPA 1980) were expressed in terms of total recoverable cadmium (U.S. EPA 1983a), but this

measurement is probably too rigorous in some situations. U.S. EPA (1985) has also expressed

cadmium criteria as acid-soluble cadmium in the past, but now recommends use of dissolved metal

concentrations (operationally defined as the metal in solution that passes through a 0.45 μm

membrane filter) to set and measure compliance with water quality standards (Prothro 1993; U.S.

EPA 1993, 1994a). 

The criteria presented herein supersede previous aquatic life water quality criteria for

cadmium (U.S. EPA 1999a) because these new criteria were derived based on the most recent

science. Whenever appropriate, a national criterion may be replaced by a site-specific criterion

(U.S. EPA 1994a), which may include not only site-specific criterion concentrations (U.S. EPA

1994b), but also site-specific durations of averaging periods and site-specific frequencies of

allowed exceedences (U.S. EPA 1991). All concentrations are expressed as cadmium, not as the

chemical tested. The latest literature search for information for this document was conducted in

June 1999; some newer information was also used.

Because the revisions being considered build from principles set forth in the 1985

Guidelines (Stephen et al. 1985), it is useful to have some understanding of how those Guidelines

are ordinarily applied: (1) Acute toxicity test data must be available for species from a minimum of

eight diverse taxonomic groups. The diversity of tested species is intended to assure protection of

various components of an aquatic ecosystem. (2) The Final Acute Value (FAV) is derived by
3

extrapolation or interpolation to a hypothetical genus more sensitive than 95 percent of all tested

genera. The FAV, which represents an LC50 or EC50, is divided by two in order to obtain an acute

criterion protective of nearly all individuals in such a genus. (3) Chronic toxicity test data (longerterm survival, growth, or reproduction) must be available for at least three taxa. Most often the

chronic criterion is set by determining an appropriate acute-chronic ratio (the ratio of acutely toxic

concentrations to the chronically toxic concentrations) and applying that ratio to the acute value of

the hypothetical genus more sensitive than 95 percent of all tested genera. If sufficient data are

available to meet the eight diverse taxonomic group minimum, then the chronic value is derived

using the same procedure as used for the FAV derivation. (4) When necessary, the acute and/or

chronic criterion may be lowered to protect recreationally or commercially important species. (5)

When evaluating time-variable ambient concentrations generally, 1-hour average concentration are

considered to be appropriate for comparison with the acute criterion, and 4-day averages with the

chronic criterion. (6) The allowable frequency for exceeding a criterion is set at once every three

years, on the average.

ACUTE TOXICITY TO FRESHWATER ANIMALS

Acceptable data on the acute effects of cadmium in freshwater are available for 39 species

of invertebrates, 24 species of fish, one salamander species, and one frog species (Table 1a). These

65 species satisfy the eight different family requirements specified in the Guidelines. A tendency

for increased tolerance to toxicity with increasing size or age has been reported (Table 1a) in the

snail, Physa gyrina (Wier and Walter 1976), the coho salmon (Chapman 1975), and the common

carp (Suresh et al. 1993a). No such effect was observed with increasing age (Table 1a) in the

cladoceran, Daphnia magna (Stuhlbacher et al. 1993), the rainbow trout (Chapman 1975, 1978), or

in the striped bass (Hughes 1973; Palawski et al. 1985). Data are unavailable for a sufficient

number of species and life stages to allow general adjustment of test results or criteria on the basis

of size or life stage. Where relationships were apparent between life-stage and sensitivity, only

values for the most sensitive life-stage were considered.
4

Water Quality Parameters Affecting Toxicity

Although many factors might affect the results of tests of the toxicity of cadmium to aquatic

organisms (Sprague 1985), water quality criteria can quantitatively take into account only factors

for which enough data are available to show that the factor similarly affects the results of tests with

a variety of species. Hardness is often thought of as having a major effect on the toxicity of

cadmium, although the observed effect may be due to one or more of a number of usually

interrelated ions, such as hydroxide, carbonate, calcium, and magnesium. Acute tests were

conducted at three different levels of water hardness with Daphnia magna (Chapman et al.

Manuscript), demonstrating that daphnids were at least five times more sensitive to cadmium in

soft water than in hard water (Table 1a). Data in Table 1a also indicate that cadmium was more

toxic to the tubificid worms Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex, the mussel Vilosa vibex,

Daphnia pulex, chinook salmon, goldfish, fathead minnow, guppy, striped bass, green sunfish and

bluegill in soft than in hard water. Carroll et al. (1979) found that calcium, but not magnesium,

reduced the acute toxicity of cadmium. 

Other water quality characteristics could potentially influence the toxicity of cadmium to

aquatic species. Giesy et al. (1977) found that dissolved organics substantially reduced the toxicity

of cadmium to daphnids, but had little effect on its toxicity to fish. No consistent relationship

between toxicity and organic particle size was observed. Development of the “biotic ligand model”

(BLM - formerly the “gill model”) in recent years has attempted to better account for the

bioavailability of metals to aquatic life. The BLM, which quantifies the capacity of metals to bind

to the gills of aquatic organisms, has been proposed as a reliable method for estimating the

bioavailable portion of dissolved metals in the water column based on site-specific water quality

parameters such as alkalinity, pH and dissolved organic carbon (McGeer et al. 2000; Meyer et al.

1999; Pagenkopf 1983; Paquin et al. 1999; U.S. EPA 1999b, 2000). Future development of the

BLM for cadmium may help better quantify the bioavailable fraction of cadmium. Nonetheless,

the model is in the preliminary development phase for cadmium and it will likely not be available

for a number of years still.

Hardness Correction
5

Currently, the primary quantitative correlation used to modify metal toxicity estimates is

water hardness (viz. the U.S. EPA 1995 water quality criteria for cadmium). Hardness (as calcium

or magnesium ions) almost certainly has some direct effect on cadmium toxicity (e.g., by

influencing membrane integrity). Calcium and magnesium ions compete with the metal for

binding sites on the gill (Carroll et al. 1979; Evans 1987; Morel and Hering 1993; Pagenkopf

1983). Hardness also serves as a general surrogate for pH, alkalinity, and ionic strength, because

waters of higher hardness usually have higher pH, alkalinity, and ionic strength. Other parameters

such as pH, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, humic matter, ionic strength (anions and cations)

and dissolved inorganic carbon also affect metal speciation and bioavailability, and thus metal

toxicity. The pH is also important in determining the metal complexation capacity of dissolved

organic matter.

Hardness is used here as a surrogate for the ions which affect the results of toxicity tests on

cadmium. However, it should be emphasized that the hardness adjustment is not a precise measure,

but an estimation. The variability associated with different life stages, clones and test conditions of

the studies used to determine the hardness slope all contribute to the uncertainty of the hardness

correction. In selected cases, only one life stage was used in the analysis (e.g., only adult fathead

minnow data). Thus, in spite of all its limitations, hardness is currently the best surrogate available

for metal toxicity adjustment.

To account for the apparent relationship of cadmium acute toxicity to hardness, an analysis

of covariance (Dixon and Brown 1979; Neter and Wasserman 1974) as noted in the guidelines

(Stephan et al. 1985) was performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Inc., Cary, NC)

software program to calculate the pooled slope for hardness using the natural logarithm of the acute

value as the dependent variable, species as the treatment or grouping variable, and the natural

logarithm of hardness as the covariate or independent variable. The pooled slope is a regression

slope from a pooled data set, where every variable is adjusted relative to its mean. The species are

adjusted separately, then pooled for a single conventional least squares regression analysis. The

slope of the regression line is the best estimate of the all-species relationship between toxicity and

hardness. With analysis of covariance, different species will be weighted relative to the number of

data points they have. In this case, the D. magna and the fathead minnow each have 28 data points
6

out of the total of 97, and the next most frequent species has just eight data points.

This analysis of covariance model was fit to the data in Table 1a for the 12 species for

which definitive acute values (less than or greater than values were not used) are available over a

range of hardness such that the highest hardness is at least three times the lowest, and the highest is

also at least 100 mg/L higher than the lowest (other species in Table 1a either did not meet these

criteria or did not show any hardness-toxicity trend due to differences in exposure methods, species

age, etc.). For D. magna, only acute toxicity tests that were initiated with less than 24-hr old

neonates were used to estimate the hardness slope. For the fathead minnow, only tests conducted

with adults were used (not those conducted with the more sensitive fry life stage). A list of the

species and acute toxicity-hardness values used to estimate the acute hardness slope is provided in

Table 1d. The slopes for all 12 species ranged from 0.1086 to 2.031, and the pooled slope for these

12 species was 1.174 (see Table 1c). An F-test was used to test whether a model with separate

species slopes for each species gives significantly better fit to the data than the model with parallel

slopes. This test showed that the separate slopes model is not significantly better, and therefore the

slopes are not significantly different than the overall pooled slope (P=0.27). The slopes and

confidence intervals associated with the 12 species indicated that D. magna (all available data) had

a very flat slope and a large confidence interval (and large standard error). If only the D. magna

data from Chapman et al. (Manuscript) were used, the resultant D. magna slope was 1.182, with

smaller confidence intervals than for the all D. magna slope. Likewise, when only the adult fathead

minnow data were used (not the fry data), the resultant fathead minnow slope was 1.221 and

smaller confidence intervals were present. If this reduced data set is used (all species but using

only data from Chapman et al. (Manuscript) for D. magna and only adult fathead minnow data), the

pooled slope for these species was 1.0166 (see Table 1c). The test for equality of the 12 slopes

using the reduced data set (all species but only Chapman D. magna and adult fathead minnow data)

produced P=0.69. Under analysis of covariance, it therefore is reasonable to assume that the slopes

for these 12 species are the same, and that the overall slope is a reasonable estimate of the average

relationship between hardness and toxicity. Either P value indicated that it was reasonable to

assume that the slopes were the same, however, the second model was considered the better model

and was therefore selected. The pooled slope of 1.0166 is close to the slope of 1.0 that is expected
7

on the basis that cadmium, calcium, magnesium, and carbonate all have a charge of two (Meyer

1999). A plot of the acute effect level (EC50 or LC50) versus total hardness is provided in Figure

1. 

The possible relationship of cadmium acute toxicity to water quality parameters other than

hardness were also considered. Both hardness and/or alkalinity were investigated by subjecting

any acute toxicity data in Table 1a having both hardness and alkalinity values available to a

multiple stepwise regression analysis using the SAS (Cary, NC) software program. The analysis

was run using the natural logarithm of the acute value as the dependent variable, species as the

treatment or grouping variable, and the natural logarithm of hardness and alkalinity as the

covariates or independent variables. As with the analysis of covariance evaluation discussed above,

the only data used in Table 1a (seven species) were those for which definitive acute values are

available over a range of both hardness and alkalinity such that the highest hardness (and alkalinity)

is at least three times the lowest, and the highest is also at least 100 mg/L higher than the lowest. 

The results obtained indicate that either variable works well alone in the regression model (R2 value

for each was 0.688), but the other variable cannot increase the strength of the model once the first

variable is included (when both were used the R2 value only increased to 0.689). This lack of

model improvement is due to the very strong correlation between hardness and alkalinity (effect of

colinearity), thus these two independent variables should not be used together in the same

regression model. Based on these results and the availability of data for water quality parameters

other than hardness, the best approach at this time is to use only hardness (analysis of covariance

discussed above) as a surrogate for the ions which affect the results of toxicity tests on cadmium.

Conversion Factors

Although past water quality criteria for cadmium (and other metals) have been established

upon the loosely defined term of “acid soluble metals,” U.S. EPA made the decision to allow the

expression of metal criteria on the basis of dissolved metal (U.S. EPA 1994a), operationally

defined as that metal that passes through a 0.45 micron filter. Because most of the data in existing

databases are from tests that were either nominal concentrations, or provided only total cadmium

measurements, some procedure was required to estimate their dissolved equivalents. The approach
8

taken by U.S. EPA involves the use of conversion factors (CF), that when applied to the total metal

concentration, gives a dissolved metal concentration. Thus, the CF corresponds to the percent of

the total recoverable metal that is dissolved. These CFs were determined by conducting a number

of “simulation tests” using solutions simulating those used in the toxicity tests that were most

important in the derivation of aquatic life criteria for each metal (static, flow-through, fed, and

unfed conditions that typified standard acute and chronic toxicity tests from which criteria are

derived). The intent was to mimic the way criteria would have been derived if dissolved metal had

been measured in each of the toxicity tests (Lussier et al. 1995; Stephan 1995; Univ. of WisconsinSuperior 1995). For certain metals like cadmium, these CFs are hardness dependent.

The appropriate CFs were used only when determining the final cadmium criteria values,

and are hardness dependent in freshwater. Acute freshwater total cadmium concentrations were

converted to dissolved concentrations using the factor of 0.973 at a total hardness level of 50 mg/L

as CaCO3, 0.944 at a total hardness level of 100 mg/L as CaCO3, and 0.915 at a total hardness

level of 200 mg/L as CaCO3. The equation for the acute freshwater conversion factor is CF =

1.136672 - [(ln hardness) (0.041838)] where the (ln hardness) is the natural logarithm of the

hardness (Stephen 1995). Acute saltwater total cadmium values were converted to dissolved using

the factor of 0.994. 

Criteria Development

The pooled slope of 1.0166 was used to adjust the freshwater acute values in Table 1a to

hardness = 50 mg/L, except where it was not possible because no hardness was reported. Species

Mean Acute Values (SMAV) were calculated as geometric means of the adjusted acute values

(only the underlined EC50/LC50 species values were used to calculate the respective SMAV). As

stated in the Guidelines (Stephen et al. 1985), flow-through measured study data are normally

given preference over non-flow-through data for a particular species. In certain cases flow-through

measured results were available, yet preference was given to the sensitive life stage for certain

species in calculating SMAVs. In addition, all underlined Table 1a data for D. magna and fathead

minnow fry were used to calculate the respective SMAVs (D. magna tests initiated with >24-hr old

neonates were not used to calculate the SMAV). Only data from Chapman (1975) were used for
9

coho salmon to avoid using test results from studies in which the life stage tested is known to be

less sensitive, or in which the life stage tested is unreported and the higher LC50s may be due

primarily to the use of less sensitive life stages. The data for Palawski et al. (1985) were used for

striped bass because they were considered better data than those given in U.S. EPA (1985),

although the data from Hughes (1973) support the newer data. Only brook trout data reported by

Carroll et al. (1979), and not by Holcombe et al. (1983) were used in the calculation of the brook

trout Final Acute Value because the reported bull trout data (Stratus Consulting 1999) in the same

genus support the Carroll et al. (1979) results. Drummond and Benoit (Manuscript) reported that

stress greatly affected the sensitivity of brook trout to cadmium.

The SMAV for freshwater invertebrates ranged from 13.41 !g/L total cadmium for the

cladoceran, D. magna to 96,880 !g/L total cadmium for the midge, Chironomus riparius. Of the

fish species tested, the brown trout, Salmo trutta, had the lowest SMAV of 1.613 !g/L total

cadmium, and the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambica, recorded the highest fish SMAV of 10,663

!g/L total cadmium. As indicated by the data, both invertebrate and fish species display a wide

range of sensitivities to cadmium.

Fish species represent eight of the nine most sensitive species to cadmium (Table 3a). 

Salmonids (Salmo trutta, Salvelinus confluentus, Salvelinus fontinalis, Oncorhynchus kisutch,

Oncorhynchus mykiss and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are six of the seven most sensitive species

listed in Table 1a, and thus are more acutely sensitive to cadmium than any other freshwater animal

species thus far tested (Carroll et al. 1979; Chapman 1975, 1978, 1982; Cusimano et al. 1986;

Davies et al. 1993; Finlayson and Verrue 1982; Phipps and Holcombe 1985; Spehar and Carlson

1984a,b; Stratus Consulting 1999). The cladoceran, D. magna, is the eighth most sensitive species

to cadmium, and thus the most acutely sensitive invertebrate species tested thus far.

Genus Mean Acute Values (GMAV) at a hardness of 50 mg/L were then calculated (Table

3a) as geometric means of the available freshwater Species Mean Acute Values and ranked. Of the

55 genera for which acute values are available, the most sensitive genus, Salmo, is over 60,062

times more sensitive than the most resistant, Chironomus. The first through fourth most sensitive

genera (a total n of 55) were used in the computation of the final acute value. The sensitivity of

these four most sensitive genera are within a factor of 2.4, and all are fish. Of the ten most
10

sensitive genera, six are fish, two are mussels, and two are cladocerans (Figure 2; Table 3a). 

Hardness-adjusted acute values are available for more than one species in nine genera, and the

range of SMAVs within each genus is less than a factor of 4.0 for eight of the nine genera. The

ninth genus, Ptychocheilus, has two SMAVs that differ by a factor of 98.5, possibly due to

differences in the test conditions between species. 

The freshwater Final Acute Value (FAV) for total cadmium at a hardness of 50 mg/L was

calculated to be 2.763 μg/L total cadmium (Table 3d) from the Genus Mean Acute Values in Table

3a using the procedure described in the Guidelines. The Species Mean Acute Values for the

rainbow trout, brook trout, bull trout and brown trout are lower than the FAV of 2.763 μg/L total

cadmium, but the acute value for the brook trout and brown trout are from static tests, whereas

flow-through measured tests have been conducted with the remaining two salmonid species. The

freshwater Final Acute Value for total cadmium at a hardness of 50 mg/L was lowered to 2.108

μg/L to protect the commercially important rainbow trout (Table 3d). This value is above the

SMAV of 1.613 !g/L for the brown trout and <1.791 !g/L for brook trout, but below all other

SMAVs listed in Table 3a (Figure 2). The resultant freshwater Criterion Maximum Concentration

(CMC) at a hardness of 50 mg/L for total cadmium (in μg/L) = e(1.0166[ln(hardness)]-3.924). If the CMC

based on total cadmium values is converted to dissolved cadmium using the 0.973 factor at a

hardness of 50 mg/L determined by U.S. EPA (Stephan 1995; Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior 1995),

the freshwater CMC for dissolved cadmium (in μg/L) = 0.973 [e(1.0166[ln(hardness)]-3.924)]. Thus, the

1.0 μg/L CMC for dissolved cadmium at a hardness of 50 mg/L is below all of the SMAVs

presented in Table 3a (Figure 2). Conversion from total to dissolved was used because hardness

relationships were established based upon total cadmium concentrations as this minimized the

number of conversions required. In a few cases where only dissolved cadmium was reported in

freshwater (Table 1a), conversion to total used the same appropriate factor.

ACUTE TOXICITY TO SALTWATER ANIMALS

Tests of the acute toxicity of cadmium to saltwater organisms have been conducted with 50

species of invertebrates and 11 species of fish (Table 1b), representing the required eight different
11

taxonomic families. A pattern of increased tolerance to toxicity with increasing size or age has

been reported (Table 1b) in the polychaete worm Capitella capitata (Reish and LeMay 1991; Reish

et al. 1976), the blue mussel (Ahsanullah 1976; Martin et al. 1981; Nelson et al. 1988), the copepod

Eurytemora affinis (Gentile 1982; Sullivan et al. 1983), the amphipods Marinogammarus obtusatus

(Wright and Frain 1981) and Leptocheirus plumulosus (McGee et al. 1998), the pink shrimp

Penaeus duorarum (Nimmo et al. 1977b; Cripe 1994), the rivulus (Park et al. 1994; Lin and

Dunson 1993), the Atlantic silverside (Cardin 1982) and the striped mullet (Hilmy et al. 1985). 

No such effect was observed with increasing age (Table 1b) in the polychaete worm Neanthes

arenaceodentata (Reish and LeMay 1991; Reish et al. 1976), the mysid Americamysis bahia,

formerly Mysidopsis bahia (De Lisle and Roberts 1988), the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio

(Khan et al. 1988; Burton and Fisher 1990), and the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (Voyer

1975). Data are unavailable for a sufficient number of species and life stages to allow general

adjustment of test results or criteria on the basis of size or life stage. Where relationships were

apparent between life-stage and sensitivity, only values for the most sensitive life-stage were

considered.

Water Quality Parameters Affecting Toxicity

Frank and Robertson (1979) reported that the acute toxicity to juvenile blue crabs was

related to salinity. The 96-hr LC50s were 320, 4,700, and 11,600 μg/L at salinities of 1, 15, and 35

g/kg, respectively (Table 1b). Studies with A. bahia by Gentile et al. (1982) and Nimmo et al.

(1977a) also support a relationship between salinity and the acute toxicity of cadmium. O’Hara

(1973a) investigated the effect of temperature and salinity on the toxicity of cadmium to the fiddler

crab. The LC50s at 20!C were 32,300, 46,600, and 37,000 μg/L at salinities of 10, 20, and 30 g/kg,

respectively. Increasing the temperature from 20 to 30!C lowered the LC50 at all salinities tested. 

Toudal and Riisgard (1987) reported that increasing the temperature from 13 to 21!C at a salinity

of 20 g/kg also lowered the LC50 value of cadmium to the copepod, Acartia tonsa. 

Saltwater fish species were generally more resistant to cadmium than freshwater fish

species with SMAVs ranging from 75.0 μg/L for the striped bass (at a salinity of 1 g/kg) to 50,000

μg/L for the sheepshead minnow (Table 3b). In a study of the interaction of dissolved oxygen and
12

salinity on the acute toxicity of cadmium to the mummichog, Voyer (1975) found that 96-hr LC50s

at a salinity of 32 g/kg were about one-half what they were at 10 and 20 g/kg. Sensitivity of the

mummichog to acute cadmium poisoning was not influenced by reduction in dissolved oxygen

concentration to 4 mg/L. This increase in toxicity with increasing salinity conflicts with other data

reported in Tables 1b and 6b. Since there was no consistent salinity-toxicity trend observed for the

data, a salinity correction factor was not attempted.

Criteria Development

 Of the 54 saltwater genera for which acute values are available, the most sensitive,

Americamysis, is 3,270 times more sensitive than the most resistant, Monopylephorus (Table 3b). 

The SMAVs for saltwater invertebrate species range from 41.29 μg/L for a mysid to 135,000 μg/L

for an oligochaete worm (Tables 1b and 3b). The acute values for saltwater polychaetes range from

200 μg/L for C. capitata to 14,100 μg/L for N. arenaceodentata (Reish and LeMay 1991). 

Saltwater molluscs have Species Mean Acute Values from 227.9 μg/L for the Pacific oyster to

19,170 μg/L for the mud snail. Acute values are available for more than one species in each of

seven genera, and the range of Species Mean Acute Values within each genus is no more than a

factor of 3.6 for six of the seven genera. The seventh genus, Crassostrea, has two SMAVs that

differ by a factor of 16.7, possibly due to different exposure conditions between species. Only the

data from Reish et al. (1976) were used for C. capitata, only data from Martin et al. (1981) and

Nelson et al. (1988) were used for M. edulis, only data from Sullivan et al. (1983) were used for E.

affinis, only data from Cripe (1994) were used for P. duorarum, and only data from Park et al.

(1994) were used for Rivulus marmoratus to avoid using test results from studies in which the life

stage tested is known to be less sensitive or in which the life stage tested is unreported and the

higher LC50s may be due primarily to the use of less sensitive life stages. The sensitivities of the

four most sensitive genera differed by a factor of 2.7, which includes two mysids, the striped bass

and the American lobster (Table 3b).

The saltwater Final Acute Value for total cadmium calculated from the Genus Mean Acute

Values in Table 3b is 80.55 μg/L. This Final Acute Value is below the SMAV for the mysid,

Mysidopsis bigelowi (110 μg/L), but is aproximately three percent above the American lobster (78
13

μg/L), approximately seven percent higher than the striped bass (75.0 μg/L), and approximately 95

percent above the SMAV for the mysid, A. bahia (41.29 μg/L, geometric mean of two flow-through

measured tests). The resultant saltwater Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) for total

cadmium is 40 μg/L (FAV/2 or 80.55 μg/L/2). If the total cadmium CMC is converted to dissolved

cadmium using the 0.994 factor determined experimentally by U.S. EPA, the saltwater CMC for

dissolved cadmium is 40 μg/L (Table 3d). The resultant 40 μg/L CMC for dissolved cadmium is

below all of the saltwater SMAVs presented in Table 3a (Figure 3).

CHRONIC TOXICITY TO FRESHWATER ANIMALS

Acceptable chronic toxicity tests have been conducted on cadmium in freshwater with 21

species, including seven invertebrates and 14 fishes in 16 genera (Table 2a). Several related values

are in Table 6a. Among the unused values in Table 6a, a 21-day Daphnia magna test in which the

test concentrations were not measured, Biesinger and Christensen (1972) found a 16 percent

reduction in reproduction at 0.17 μg/L. Bertram and Hart (1979) and Ingersoll and Winner (1982)

found chronic toxicity to Daphnia pulex at less than 1 and 10 μg/L, respectively. A 32-day flowthrough measured juvenile bluegill study conducted by Cope et al. (1994) determined a growth

NOEC value of >32.3 μg/L (Table 6a), which supports the 49.8 μg/L chronic value (Table 2a)

reported by Eaton (1974). The 200-hr LC10 of 0.7 μg/L obtained with rainbow trout (Table 6a) by

Chapman (1978) probably would be close to the result of an early life-stage test because of the

extent to which various life stages were investigated. Effects on other salmonids and many

invertebrates have been observed at 5 μg/L (adjusted for hardness when available) or less (Table

6a). These invertebrate species include protozoans (Fernandez-Leborans and Noville-Villajos

1993; Niederlehner et al. 1985), C. dubia (Winner 1988; Zuiderveen and Birge 1997), D. magna

(Enserink et al. 1993; Winner and Whitford 1987), zooplankton (Lawrence and Holoka 1987),

amphipods (Borgmann et al. 1991; Phipps et al. 1995), midges (Anderson et al. 1980), and

mayflies (Spehar et al. 1978).

An acceptable C. dubia seven-day static-renewal toxicity test was conducted by Jop et al.

(1995) using reconstituted soft laboratory water. The <24-hr old neonates were exposed to 1, 5, 10,
14

19 and 41 μg/L measured cadmium concentrations in addition to a laboratory water control at 25°C. 

The NOEC and LOEC were 10 and 19 μg/L cadmium, respectively, with a resultant chronic value

of 13.78 μg/L cadmium (Table 2a).

The effects of water hardness on the toxicity of cadmium to D. magna was evaluated by

Chapman et al. (Manuscript) under static-renewal conditions at a temperature of 20 ± 2°C. As part

of the experimental design, the total hardness level was adjusted to either 53, 103 or 209 mg/L (as

CaCO3) in three distinct tests. Daphnids were individually exposed to six measured cadmium

concentrations (exposures ranged from 0.15 to 22.1 μg/L cadmium among the three tests) and a

control (0.08 μg/L cadmium) for 21 days. Based on an analysis of variance hypothesis testing

procedure, they reported reproductive (mean number of young per adult) chronic values of 0.1523,

0.2117 and 0.4371 μg/L cadmium at hardness levels of 53, 103 and 209 mg/L, respectively (Table

2a). These same data were also subjected to a regression analysis procedure, whereby the 20

percent reproductive (mean number of young per adult) inhibition concentration (IC20) was

estimated for each hardness level. The resultant IC20 values were 0.07, 0.23 and 0.33 μg/L

cadmium for the 53, 103 and 209 mg/L hardness levels, respectively. Overall, the results obtained

by the two different procedures are similar. 

The effect of cadmium on the reproduction strategy of D. magna was investigated by Bodar

et al. (1988b). After a 25-day exposure of the 12 ± 12-hr old neonates to 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 5.0,

10.0, 20.0 and 50 μg/L cadmium at 20 ± 1°C, the authors compared the survival, number of

neonates per female, first day of reproduction and neonate size of the cadmium exposures to the

controls. The 25-day reproductive NOEC was 5.0 μg/L cadmium, and the reproductive LOEC was

10.0 μg/L cadmium. The resultant chronic value was 7.07 μg/L cadmium (Table 2a).

Borgman et al. (1989) also investigated the effect of cadmium on D. magna reproduction. 

The 21-day static-renewal test was conducted at 20°C using measured exposure concentrations of

0.22 (control), 1.86, 4.10, 7.78 and 22.9 μg/L cadmium. Reproduction was significantly reduced at

the lowest measured exposure concentration of 1.86 μg/L cadmium. Thus, the reproductive NOEC

and LOEC were <1.86 and 1.86 μg/L cadmium, respectively, with a chronic value of <1.86 μg/L

cadmium (Table 2a). 

Brown et al. (1994) exposed 270-day old rainbow trout to cadmium under flow-through
15

conditions for 65 weeks using borehole water with a total hardness of 250 mg/L (as CaCO3). Mean

cadmium concentrations during the exposure of adult fish were 0.47 (control), 1.77, 3.39 and 5.48

μg/L. After 65 weeks of exposure, the three most mature males and females were selected from

each treatment, anesthetized and striped of their gametes when possible, with the milt and ova

combined in a bucket. The fertilized eggs from each treatment group were then divided into four

approximately equal-sized subsamples and exposed for seven weeks in 30-liter aquaria under flowthrough conditions to nominal concentrations of 0 (control), 2.0, 5.0 and 8.0 μg/L cadmium. 

Second generation fry development was significantly affected when the parents were exposed to

1.77 μg/L cadmium, but not when exposed to 0.47 μg/L cadmium (control). However, second

generation embryo survival for all groups was less than 60 percent, which may have influenced the

fry development effect levels. A more representative endpoint was the ability of the first

generation adults to reach sexual maturity, with NOEC and LOEC values of 3.39 and 5.48 μg/L

cadmium, respectively. The resultant chronic value was 4.310 μg/L cadmium (Table 2a).

Brown et al. (1994) also exposed two-year old brown trout to cadmium under flow-through

conditions for 95 weeks using the same borehole water. Mean cadmium concentrations during the

exposure of adult fish were 0.27 (control), 5.13, 9.34 and 29.1 μg/L. After 60 weeks of exposure,

the three most mature males and females were selected from each treatment, anesthetized and

striped of their gametes, with the milt and ova combined in a bucket. The fertilized eggs from each

treatment group were then divided into four approximately equal-sized subsamples and exposed for

50 days in 30-liter aquaria under flow-through conditions to cadmium concentrations similar to

those in which the parents were exposed. After the 90 week exposure, the survival NOEC and

LOEC were 9.34 and 29.1 μg/L cadmium, respectively, with a resultant chronic value of 16.49

μg/L cadmium (Table 2a).

A 32-day fathead minnow early life stage toxicity test was conducted by Spehar and Fiandt

(1986) under flow-through conditions using sand filtered Lake Superior dilution water (Table 2a). 

They reported a chronic value of 10.0 μg/L cadmium, which when coupled with their 96-hour

LC50 of 13.2 μg/L cadmium, gives an acute-chronic ratio of 1.320.

Ingersoll and Kemble (unpublished) investigated the chronic toxicity of cadmium to the

amphipod Hyalella azteca. The organisms were exposed under flow-through measured conditions
16

(control, low, middle and high exposures) at a mean temperature of 23°C and a total hardness of

280 mg/L (as CaCO3). A 3-m nylon mesh substrate was provided during the test. The seven- to

eight-day old amphipods were exposed to water only mean total cadmium concentrations of 0.10

(control), 0.12, 0.32, 0.51, 1.9 and 3.2 μg/L for 42 days. The most sensitive endpoint was survival,

with an NOEC and LOEC of 0.51 and 1.9 μg/L cadmium, respectively, after both 28 and 42 days of

exposure. The resultant chronic value was 0.9844 μg/L total cadmium (Table 2a), which was

similar to the estimated 42-day survival IC25 value of 1.9 μg/L.

Ingersoll and Kemble (unpublished) also exposed the midge Chironomus tentans to

cadmium under the same conditions listed above for the amphipod, except that a thin 5 mm layer of

sand was provided as a substrate. The <24-hr old larvae were exposed to water only mean

measured total cadmium concentrations of 0.15 (control), 0.50, 1.5, 3.1, 5.8 and 17.4 μg/L for 20

days. The mean weight, biomass, percent emergence and percent hatch endpoints all had 20-day

NOEC and LOEC values of 5.8 and 17.4 μg/L cadmium, respectively (Table 2a). The resultant

chronic value was 10.05 μg/L total cadmium. The data were also subjected to regression analysis

with resultant IC25 values of 10.3, 10.7, 8.3 and 4.0 μg/L for weight, biomass, percent emergence

and percent hatch, respectively. All four IC25 values were similar to the 10.05 μg/L chronic value

determined for each endpoint.

Hardness Correction

Chronic values are available over a wide range of hardness for three species (Tables 2a and

2d). To account for the apparent relationship of cadmium chronic toxicity to hardness, an analysis

of covariance (same as the analysis performed on the acute data) was performed to calculate the

pooled slope for hardness using the natural logarithm of the chronic value as the dependent

variable, species as the treatment or grouping variable, and the natural logarithm of hardness as the

covariate or independent variable. This analysis of covariance model was fit to the data in Table 2a

for the three species for which definitive chronic values are available over a range of hardness such

that the highest hardness is at least three times the lowest, and the highest is also at least 100 mg/L

higher than the lowest (other species in Table 2a did not meet these criteria). The slopes for the

three species ranged from 0.5212 to 1.579, and the pooled slope for these three species was 0.9685
17

with P=0.90 (Table 2c). As with the acute slope determination, the all D. magna data set was too

divergent, and only the Chapman et al. (Manuscript) D. magna data were used with the two other

species (brown trout and fathead minnow) to estimate the overall slope. If this reduced data set is

used (all species but using only data from Chapman et al. (Manuscript) for D. magna), the pooled

slope for these species was 0.7409 with P=0.35 (see Table 2c). A plot of the chronic effect level

versus total hardness is provided in Figure 4.

Criteria Development

The slope of 0.7409 was used to adjust each chronic value to a hardness of 50 mg/L. 

Generally, replicate adjusted chronic values for a species agreed well, as did values for species

within a genus. The two values for Atlantic salmon are very different, but one agrees well with the

value for the other tested species in the same genus. Twenty-one Species Mean Chronic Values

(SMCV) were then calculated from the underlined values in Table 2a. When both early life stage

(ELS) and life cycle (LC) data were available for a species, the SMCV was calculated using only

the LC data per the Guideline recommendations. From these 21 SMCVs, sixteen Genus Mean

Chronic Values were calculated and ranked (Table 3c). 

A freshwater Final Chronic Value was calculated from the sixteen Genus Mean Chronic

Values using the procedure used to calculate a Final Acute Value. This approach was appropriate

since a number of chronic tests have been conducted with a large variety of species and these

species met the eight different taxonomic family Guideline requirement. Thus, the freshwater Final

Chronic Value for total cadmium at a hardness of 50 mg/L is (in μg/L) = e(0.7409[ln(hardness)]-4.719), or

equal to 0.16 μg/L. For dissolved cadmium, the Final Chronic value at a hardness of 50 mg/L is (in

μg/L) = 0.938 [e(0.7409[ln(hardness)]-4.719)], or equal to 0.15 μg/L. The equation for the chronic freshwater

conversion factor is CF = 1.101672 - [(ln hardness) (0.041838)] where the (ln hardness) is the

natural logarithm of the hardness (Stephen 1995). At a hardness of 50 mg/L, all Genus Mean

Chronic Values are above the dissolved Final Chronic Value (Figure 5).

Another option for calculating the Final Chronic Value is to use the Final Acute-Chronic

Ratio in conjunction with the Final Acute Value. However, the acute-chronic ratios ranged from

0.9021 for the chinook salmon to 433.8 for the flagfish (greater than a factor of ten), with other
18

values scattered throughout this range (Tables 2e and 3c). These ratios do not seem to follow any

of the patterns (Table 3c) recommended in the Guidelines, and so it does not seem reasonable to

use a freshwater Final Acute-Chronic Ratio to calculate a Final Chronic Value.

CHRONIC TOXICITY TO SALTWATER ANIMALS

Three chronic toxicity tests have been conducted with the saltwater invertebrate,

Americamysis bahia, formerly classified as Mysidopsis bahia (Table 2b). Nimmo et al. (1977a)

conducted a 23-day life-cycle test at 20 to 28°C and salinity of 15 to 23 g/kg. Survival was 10

percent at 10.6 μg/L, 84 percent at the next lower test concentration of 6.4 μg/L, and 95 percent in

the controls. No unacceptable effects were observed at 6.4 μg/L or any lower concentration. The

chronic toxicity limits, therefore, are 6.4 and 10.6 μg/L, with a chronic value of 8.237 μg/L. The

96-hr LC50 was 15.5 μg/L, resulting in an acute-chronic ratio of 1.882.

Another life-cycle test was conducted on cadmium with A. bahia under different

environmental conditions, including a constant temperature of 21°C and salinity of 30 g/kg

(Gentile et al. 1982; Lussier et al. 1985). All organisms died in 28 days at 23 μg/L. At 10 μg/L a

series of morphological abberations occurred at the onset of sexual maturity. External genitalia in

males were abberant, females failed to develop brood pouches, and both sexes developed a

carapace malformation that prohibited molting after the release of the initial brood. Although

initial reproduction at this concentration was successful, successive broods could not be born

because molting resulted in death. No malformations or effects on initial or successive

reproductive processes were noted in the controls or at 5.1 μg/L. Thus, the chronic limits for this

study are 5.1 and 10 μg/L for a chronic value of 7.141 μg/L (Table 2b). The LC50 at 21°C and

salinity of 30 g/kg was 110 μg/L which results in an acute-chronic ratio of 15.40 from this study.

These two studies showed excellent agreement between the chronic values but considerable

divergence between the acute values and acute-chronic ratios. Several studies have demonstrated

an increase in acute toxicity of cadmium with decreasing salinity and increasing temperature (Table

6b). The observed differences in acute toxicity to the mysids might be explained on this basis. 

Nimmo et al. (1977a) conducted their acute test at 20 to 28°C and salinity of 15 to 23 g/kg, whereas
19

the other test was performed at 21°C and salinity of 30 g/kg.

A third A. bahia chronic study was conducted by Carr et al. (1985) at a salinity of 30 g/kg,

but the temperature varied from 14 to 26°C over the 33 day study (Table 2b). At test termination,

>50 percent of the organisms had died in cadmium exposures !8 μg/L. After 18 days of exposure,

growth in the 4 μg/L, the lowest concentration treatment group was significantly reduced when

compared to the controls. The resultant chronic limits for this study are <4 and 4 μg/L cadmium. 

Acute data were not presented by the authors. The lower chronic value observed for this study as

compared to the two studies described above may have been due to unexpected temperature

fluctuations over the study period (due to mechanical problems). 

Gentile et al. (1982) also conducted a life-cycle test with another mysid, Mysidopsis

bigelowi, and the results were very similar to those for A. bahia. Thus, the chronic value was 7.141

μg/L and the acute-chronic ratio was 15.40.

Because they covered such a wide range, it would be inappropriate to use any of the

available freshwater acute-chronic ratios in the calculation of the saltwater Final Chronic Value. 

The two saltwater species for which acute-chronic ratios are available (Table 3b) have Species

Mean Acute Values in the same range as the saltwater Final Acute Value, and so it seems

reasonable to use the geometric mean of these two ratios. When the saltwater Final Acute Value of

80.55 μg/L is divided by the mean acute-chronic ratio of 9.106, a saltwater Final Chronic Value of

8.9 μg/L is obtained. The dissolved cadmium FCV is computed using the CF (0.994 x 8.846 μg/L),

and is equal to 8.8 μg/L.

TOXICITY TO AQUATIC PLANTS

Thirty-three acceptable tests are available with freshwater plant species exposed to

cadmium which lasted from 4 to 28 days (Table 4a). Growth reduction was the major toxic effect

observed with freshwater aquatic plants, and several values are in the range of concentrations

causing chronic effects on animals. The influence that plant growth media might have had on the
20

toxicity tests is unknown, but is probably minor at least in the case of Conway (1978) who used a

medium patterned after natural Lake Michigan water. The freshwater plant and animal data

presented in this document were compared and the lowest toxicity values for fish and invertebrate

species are lower than the lowest values for plants. A plot of the freshwater plant values is

provided in Figure 6a. Thus, water quality criteria which protect freshwater animals should also

protect freshwater plants. A final plant value was not calculated.

Toxicity values are available for five species of saltwater diatoms and two species of

macroalgae (Table 4b). Concentrations causing fifty percent reductions in the growth rates of

diatoms range from 60 μg/L for Ditylum brightwelli to 22,390 μg/L for Phaeodactylum

tricornutum, the most resistant to cadmium. The brown macroalga (kelp) exhibited mid-range

sensitivity to cadmium, with an EC50 of 860 μg/L. The most sensitive saltwater plant tested was

the red alga, Champia parvula, with significant reductions in the growth of both the

tetrasporophyte plant and female plant occurring at 22.8 μg/L. The saltwater plant and animal data

were also compared, and the most sensitive plant species (C. parvula) is more resistant than the

chronically most sensitive animal species tested. A plot of the saltwater plant values is provided in

Figure 7. Therefore, water quality criteria for cadmium that protect saltwater animals should also

protect saltwater plants. A final plant value was not calculated.

BIOACCUMULATION

Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for cadmium in freshwater (Table 5a) range from 3 for

brook trout muscle (Benoit et al. 1976) to 6,910 for the soft tissue of the snail Viviparus georgianus

(Tessier et al. 1994b). Usually, fish accumulate only small amounts of cadmium in muscle as

compared to most other tissues and organs (Benoit et al. 1976; Jarvinen and Ankley 1999;

Sangalang and Freeman 1979). However, specific studies summarized by Jarvinen and Ankley

(1999) showed that the skin, spleen, gill, fin, otolith and bone also have low bioconcentration

factors. Sangalang and Freeman (1979) found that cadmium residues in fish reach steady-state

only after exposure periods greatly exceeding 28 days. D. magna, and presumably other

invertebrates of about this size or smaller, often reach steady-state within a few days (Poldoski

1979). Cadmium accumulated by fish from water is eliminated slowly (Benoit et al. 1976: Kumada
21

et al. 1980), but Kumada et al. (1980) found that cadmium accumulated from food is eliminated

much more rapidly. If all variables, except temperature, were kept the same, Tessier et al. (1994a)

found that increased exposure temperatures generally increased the soft tissue bioconcentration

factor observed for the snail, V. georgianus, but not for the mussel, Elliptio complanata. Poldoski

(1979) reported that humic acid decreased the uptake of cadmium by D. magna, but Winner (1984)

did not find any effect. Ramamoorthy and Blumhagen (1984) reported that fulvic and humic acids

increased uptake of cadmium by rainbow trout.

The only BCF reported for a saltwater fish is a value of 48 from a 21-day exposure of the

mummichog (Table 6b). However, among ten species of invertebrates, the BCFs range from 22 to

3,160 for whole body and from 5 to 2,040 for muscle (Table 5b). The highest BCF was reported

for the polychaete, Ophryotrocha diadema (Klockner 1979). Although a BCF of 3,160 was

attained after sixty-four days exposure using the renewal technique, tissue residues had not reached

steady-state.

BCFs for four species of saltwater bivalve molluscs range from 113 for the blue mussel

(George and Coombs 1977) to 2,150 for the eastern oyster (Zaroogian and Cheer 1976). In

addition, the range of reported BCFs is rather large for some individual species. BCFs for the

oyster include 149 and 677 (Table 6b), as well as 1,220, 1,830 and 2,150 (Table 5b). Similarly,

two studies with the bay scallop resulted in BCFs of 168 (Eisler et al. 1972) and 2,040 (Pesch and

Stewart 1980) and three studies with the blue mussel reported BCFs of 113, 306, and 710 (Tables

5b and 6b). George and Coombs (1977) studied the importance of metal speciation on cadmium

accumulation in the soft tissues of Mytilus edulis. Cadmium complexed as Cd-EDTA, Cd-alginate,

Cd-humate, and Cd-pectate (Table 6b) was bioconcentrated at twice the rate of inorganic cadmium

(Table 5b). Because bivalve molluscs usually do not reach steady-state, comparisons between

species may be difficult and the length of exposure may be the major determinant in the size of the

BCF.

BCFs for five species of saltwater crustaceans range from 22 to 307 for whole body and

from 5 to 25 for muscle (Tables 5b and 6b). Nimmo et al. (1977b) reported whole-body BCFs of

203 and 307 for two species of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio and P. vulgaris. Vernberg et al.

(1977) reported a factor of 140 for P. pugio at 25!C (Table 6b), whereas Pesch and Stewart (1980)

reported a BCF of 22 for the same species exposed at 10!C, indicating that temperature might be an
22

important variable. The commercially important crustaceans, the pink shrimp and lobster, were not

effective bioaccumulators of cadmium with factors of 57 for whole body and 25 for muscle,

respectively (Tables 5b and 6b).

Mallard ducks are a native wildlife species whose chronic sensitivity to cadmium has been

studied. These birds can be expected to ingest many of the freshwater and saltwater plants and

animals listed in Tables 4a and 4b. White and Finley (1978a,b) and White et al. (1978) found

significant damage at a cadmium concentration of 200 mg/kg in food for 90 days. Di Giulio and

Scanlon (1984) found significant effects on energy metabolism at 450 mg/kg, but not at 150 mg/kg. 

These are concentrations which would cause damage to mallard ducks. More recent information

may be available, but these data would not have been identified during the literature search

conducted for this update. 

The bioaccumulation data provided in this document is for information purposes only. 

Calculation of a Final Residue Value for cadmium will not be presented at this time.

OTHER DATA

Data presented in Table 6 are not acceptable for inclusion in Tables 1-5, but provide useful

information on the effects of cadmium to aquatic organisms. Several studies were reported in

Table 6 and not in Table 1 either because the organisms were fed during acute studies (Lewis and

Horning 1991; Ingersoll and Winner 1982; Mount and Norberg 1984; Pascoe et al. 1986;

Schubauer-Berigan et al. 1993; Williams and Dusenbery 1990; Wiliams et al. 1986; Winner 1984)

or the tests used unusual or uncharacterized dilution water (Hall et al. 1986; Hickey and Vickers

1992; Khangarot and Ray 1989a).

Although a number of the values in Tables 6a and 6b have already been discussed, the

following section presents information supporting data presented in Tables 1-5, plus other useful

trends or relationships. The effects of prior cadmium exposure to the resistence of the marine

copepod, Acartia clausi, was investigated by Moraitou-Apostolopoulou et al. (1979). They

observed that an A. clausi population collected from a metal impacted area displayed a greater

tolerance to lethal cadmium concentrations when compared to a population obtained from a nonpolluted site. The pollution acclimated population also had greater longevity than the non-adapted
23

population when exposed to sublethal levels of cadmium. 

The cumulative mortality resulting from exposure to cadmium for more than 96 hours is

clearly evident from the studies with phytoplankton (Fargasova 1993; Findlay et al. 1996),

duckweed (Outridge 1992), protozoa (Niederlehner et al. 1985), zooplankton (Lawrence and

Holoka (1987), snails (Spehar et al. 1978), zebra mussels (Kraak et al. 1992a,b), crayfish (Thorp et

al. 1979), macroinvertebrates (Giesy et al. 1979), polychaetes (Reish et al. 1976), bivalve molluscs,

crabs, and starfish (Eisler and Hennekey 1977), scallops, shrimp, and crabs (Pesch and Stewart

1980), and a mysid (Gentile et al. 1982; Nimmo et al. 1977a). 

In unmeasured flow-through sockeye salmon cadmium exposures, Servizi and Martens

(1978) reported 7-day LC50 values that ranged from 8 to 4,500 μg/L for fry and alevins,

respectively. The range and life stage sensitivity pattern observed by the authors were similar to

other salmonid studies reported in Table 1a. 

Nimmo et al. (1977a) in studies with the mysid, Americamysis bahia, reported a 96-hr

LC50 of 15.5 μg/L (Table 1) and a 17-day LC50 of 11 μg/L (Table 6) at 25 to 28!C and salinity of

10 to 17 g/kg in the 96-hr study and 15 to 23 g/kg in the 17-day study. In another series of studies

with this mysid (Gentile et al. 1982), the 96-hr LC50 was 110 μg/L (Table 1) and the 16-day LC50

was 28 μg/L (Table 6b) at 20°C and salinity of 30 g/kg. These data suggest that short-term acute

toxicity might be strongly influenced by environmental variables, whereas long-term effects, even

mortality, are not. 

Considerable information exists concerning the effect of salinity and temperature on the

acute toxicity of cadmium. Unfortunately, the conditions and durations of exposure are so different

that adjustment of acute toxicity data for salinity is not possible. Rosenberg and Costlow (1976)

studied the synergistic effects of cadmium and salinity combined with constant and cycling

temperatures on the larval development of two estuarine crab species. They reported reduction in

survival and significant delay in development of the blue crab with decreasing salinity. Cadmium

was three times as toxic at a salinity of 10 g/kg than at 30 g/kg. Studies with the mud crab resulted

in a similar cadmium-salinity response. In addition, the authors report that cycling temperature

may have a stimulating effect on survival of larvae compared to constant temperature.

Theede et al. (1979) investigated the effect of temperature and salinity on the acute toxicity

of cadmium to the colonial hydroid, Laomedea loveni. At 17.5 °C cadmium concentrations
24

inducing irreversible retraction of half of the polyps ranged from 12.4 μg/L at a salinity of 25 g/kg

to 3.0 μg/L at 10 g/kg (Table 6). At a temperature of 17.5°C, the toxicity of cadmium increased as

salinity decreased from 25 g/kg to 10 g/kg.

A similar acute toxicity-salinity relationship was observed by Hall et al. (1995) for the

copepod, Eurytemora affinis, whereby the 96-hour toxicity increased four-fold (from 213 to 51.6

μg/L cadmium) when the salinity was decreased from 15 to 5 g/kg at a test temperature of 25°C. 

Hall et al. (1995) also observed an approximate three-fold toxicity increase to the sheepshead

minnow when the salinity was lowered in similar fashion at the same temperature. Likewise, the

21-day toxicity of cadmium to the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, increased over nine-fold when

the salinity was lowered from 25 to 2.5 g/kg, and the temperature was held constant at 22-23°C

(Guerin and Stickle 1995). In contrast, Snell and Personne (1989b) observed little difference in the

24-hour toxicity of cadmium to the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, exposed under 15 and 30 g/kg

salinity regimes and a temperature of 25°C. 

The effect of environmental factors on the acute toxicity of cadmium is also evident from

tests with the early life stages of saltwater vertebrates. Alderdice et al. (1979a,b,c) reported that

salinity influenced the effects of cadmium on the volume, capsule strength, and osmotic response

of embryos of the Pacific herring. Studies with embryos of the winter flounder indicated a

quadratic salinity-cadmium relationship (Voyer et al. 1977), whereas Voyer et al. (1979) reported a

linear relationship between salinity and cadmium toxicity to Atlantic silverside embryos.

Several studies have reported chronic sublethal effects of cadmium on saltwater fishes

(Table 6b). Significant reduction in gill tissue respiratory rate was reported for the cunner after a

30-day exposure to 50 μg/L (MacInnes et al. 1977). Dawson et al. (1977) also reported a

significant decrease in gill-tissue respiration of striped bass at 0.5 μg/L above ambient levels after a

30-day, but not a 90-day, exposure. A similar study with the winter flounder (Calabrese et al.

1975) demonstrated a significant alteration in gill tissue respiration rate measured in vitro after a

60-day exposure to 5 μg/L. 

UNUSED DATA

Based on the requirements set forth in the guidelines (Stephen et al. 1985), the following
25

studies are not acceptable for the following reasons and are classified as unused data. 

Studies Were Conducted with Species That Are Not Resident in North America

Abbasi and Soni (1986) 

Abel and Papoutsoglou (1986) 

Abel and Garner (1986) 

Abel and Barlocher (1988) 

Ahsanullah et al. (1981) 

Ahsanullah and Williams (1991) AmiardTriquet et al. (1987) 

Annune et al. (1994) 

Arshaduddin et al. (1989) 

Austen et al. (1997) 

Avery et al. (1996) 

Azeez and Banerjee (1987) 

Baby and Menon (1987) 

Bambang et al. (1994) 

Bednarz and Warkowska-Dratnal

(1983/1984) 

Birmelin et al. (1995) 

Bresler and Yanko (1995) 

Brooks et al. (1996) 

Brunetti et al. (1991) 

Calevro et al. (1998) 

Canli and Furness (1993, 1995)

Cassini et al. (1986) 

Castille and Lawrence (1981) 

Centeno et al. (1993) 

Chan (1988) 

Chandini (1988, 1988, 1989, 1991)

Chandra and Garg (1992) 

Charpentier et al. (1987) Chattopadhyay

et al. (1995) 

Cheung and Lam (1998) 

Coppellotti (1994) 

D’Agostino and Finney (1974) Dallinger

et al. (1989) 

Darmono (1990) 

Darmono et al. (1990) 

Datta et al. (1987)

Demon et al. (1989) 

Den Besten et al. (1989, 1991) 

De Nicola Giudici and Guarino (1989) 

De Nicola Giudici and Migliore (1988) 

Denton and Burdon-Jones (1986 1986) 

Devi (1987, 1996)

Devi and Rao (1989)

Devineau and Triquet (1985)

Dorgelo et al. (1995)

Douben (1989)

Drbal et al. (1985)

Duquesne and Coll (1995)

Evtushenko et al. (1986)

Evtushenko et al. (1990)

Ferrari et al. (1993)

Fisher et al. (1996)

Fisher et al. (1996)

Forget et al. (1998)

Francesconi (1989)

Francesconi et al. (1994)

Forbes (1991)

Gaur et al. (1994)

Gerhardt (1992, 1995)

Ghosh and Chakrabarti (1990)

Glynn (1996)

Glynn et al. (1992, 1994)

Gopal and Devi (1991)

Green et al. (1986)

Greenwood and Fielder (1983)

Gupta and Rajbanshi (1991)

Gupta et al. (1992)

Hader et al. (1997)

Hansten et al. (1996)

Heinis et al. (1990)

Herkovits and Coll (1993)

Hiraoka et al. (1985)

Hu et al. (1996)

Huebner and Pynnonen (1992)

Husaini et al. (1991)

Ikuta (1987)

Jenkins and Sanders (1985)

Karlsson-Norrgren and Runn (1985)

Kasuga (1980)

Keduo et al. (1987)

Khangarot and Ray. (1987)

Khristoforova et al. (1984)

Kobayashi (1971)

Krassoi and Julli (1994)

Krishnaja et al. (1987)

Kuhn and Pattard (1990)

Kuroshima (1987)

Kuroshima and Kimura (1990)

Kuroshima et al. (1993)

Lam (1996, 1996)

Lam et al. (1997)

Lee and Xu (1984)

Loumbourdis et al. (1999)

McCahon et al. (1988)

McCahon and Pascoe (1988, 1988, 1988)

McCahon et al. (1989)

McClurg (1984)

Ma et al. (1999)
26

Malea (1994)

Markich and Jeffree (1994, 1994)

Martinez et al. (1996)

Metayer et al. (1982)

Michibata et al. (1986)

Michibata et al. (1987)

Migliore and Giudici (1987)

Moller et al. (1994)

Mostafa and Khalil (1986)

Muino et al. (1990)

Musko et al. (1990)

Nakagawa and Ishio (1988, 1989)

Nassiri et al. (1997)

Negilski (1976)

Nir et al. (1990)

Noraho and Gaur (1995)

Notenboom et al. (1992)

Nott and Nicolaidou (1994)

Nugegoda and Rainbow (1995)

Ojaveer et al. (1980)

Pantani et al. (1997)

Papathanassiou (1995)

Pavicic et al. (1994)

Perez-Coll and Herkovits (1996)

Pynnonen (1995)

Rainbow and Kwan (1995)

Rainbow et al. (1980)

Rainbow and White (1989)

Ralph and Burchett (1998)

Ramachandran et al. (1997)

Rao and Madhyastha (1987)

Rebhun and Ben-Amotz (1984)

Reish et al. (1988)

Ringwood (1990, 1992)

Ritterhoff et al. (1996)

Romeo and Gnassia-Barelli (1995)

Safadi (1998)

Sastry and Shukla (1994)

Sastry and Sunita (1982)

Saxena et al. (1990, 1993)

Schafer et al. (1994)

Sehgal and Saxena (1987)

Shanmukhappa and Neelakantan (1990)

Shivaraj and Patil (1988)

Simoes Goncalves (1989)

Stuhlbacher and Maltby (1992)

Takamura et al. (1989)

Temara et al. (1996a,b)

Ten Hoopen et al. (1985)

Thaker and Haritos (1989)

Thebault et al. (1996)

Theede et al. (1979)

Tomasik et al. (1995)

Tyurin and Khristoforova (1993)

Udoidiong and Akpan (1991)

Valencia et al. (1998)

Van Gemert (1985)

Vashchenko and Zhadan (1993)

Verriopoulos and MoraitouApostolopoulou (1981, 1982)

Visviki and Rachlin (1991)

Vogiatzis and Loumbourdis (1998)

Vranken et al. (1985)

Vuori (1994)

Vymazal (1990, 1995)

Walsh et al. (1995)

Warnau et al. (1995a,b,c, 1996a,b, 1997)

Westernhagen and Dethlefsen (1975)

Westernhagen et al. (1975, 1978)

Wildgust and Jones (1998)

White and Rainbow (1986)

Wicklund and Runn (1988)

Wicklund et al. (1988)

Wu et al. (1997)

Wundram et al. (1996)

Zanders and Rojas (1992, 1996)

 Zou and Bu (1994) 

Brown and Ahsanullah (1971) conducted tests with a brine shrimp species, that are too atypical to

be used in deriving national criteria.

Cadmium Was a Component of a Drilling Mud, Effluent, Mixture, Sediment or Sludge

Allen (1994, 1995)

Amiard-Triquet et al. (1988)

Andres et al. (1999)

Arnac and Lassus (1985)

Austen and McEvoy (1997)

Bartsch et al. (1999)

Beiras et al. (1998)

Bendell-Young (1994)

Bendell-Young et al. (1986)

Besser and Rabeni (1987)

Biesinger et al. (1986)

Bigelow and Lasenby (1991)
27

Bodar et al. (1990)

Buckley et al. (1985)

Burden and Bird (1994)

Busch et al. (1998)

Campbell and Evans (1991)

Camusso et al. (1995)

Carlisle and Clements (1999)

Casini and Depledge (1997)

Cuvin-Aralar (1994)

Cuvin-Aralar and Aralar (1993)

Dallinger et al. (1997)

de March (1988)

Elliott et al. (1986)

Farag et al. (1994, 1998)

Gully and Mason (1993)

Hall et al. (1984, 1987, 1988)

Hardy and Raber (1985)

Hare et al. 1991, (1994)

Haritonidis et al. (1994)

Hartwell (1997)

Haynes et al. (1989)

Hendriks (1995)

Hickey and Clements (1998)

Hickey and Martin (1995)

Hickey and Roper (1992)

Hogstrand et al. (1991)

Hollis et al. (1996)

Hooten and Carr (1998)

Hylland et al. (1996)

Inza et al. (1998)

Jak et al. (1996)

Janssens de Bisthoven et al. (1992)

Jop (1991)

Keenan and Alikhan (1991)

Kelly and Whitton (1989)

Kettle and deNoyelles (1986)

Khan and Weis (1993)

Khan et al. (1989)

Kiffney and Clements (1996)

Klerks and Bartholomew (1991)

Kock et al. (1995)

Koivisto et al. (1997)

Kolok et al. (1998)

Kraak et al. (1993, 1994)

Krantzberg (1989a,b)

Krantzberg and Stokes (1988, 1989)

Kumar (1991)

Lee and Luoma (1998)

Lithner et al. (1995)

Lucker et al. (1997)

Macdonald and Sprague (1988)

Maloney (1996)

Manz et al. (1994)

Marr et al. (1995a, b)

Mathew and Menon (1992)

Mersch et al. (1996)

Nalewajko (1995)

Nelson (1994)

Odin et al. (1996, 1997)

Palawski et al. (1985)

Pedersen and Petersen (1996)

Pellegrini et al. (1993)

Playle et al. (1993)

Polar and Kucukcezzar (1986)

Poulton et al. (1995)

Prevot and Soyer-Gobillard (1986)

Qichen et al. (1988)

Rachlin and Grosso (1993)

Reynoldson et al. (1996)

Richelle et al. (1995)

Roch and McCarter (1984)

Roesijadi and Fellingham (1987)

Sanchiz et al. (1999)

Schaeffer et al. (1991)

Smokorowski et al. (1997)

Stephenson and Macki (1989)

Stern and Stern (1980)

Talbot (1985, 1987)

Tessier et al. (1993)

Vuori (1993)

Vymazal (1984)

Wall et al. (1996)

Walsh and Hunter (1992)

Wang et al. (1996)

Warren et al. (1998)

Weimin et al. (1994)

Wong et al. (1982)

Woodling (1993)

Woodward et al. (1995)

These Reviews Only Contain Data That Have Been Published Elsewhere

Barnthouse et al. (1987)

Bay et al. (1993)

Cairns et al. (1985)

Chapman et al. (1968)

Dierickx and Bredael-Rozen (1996)

Dyer et al. (1997)

Eisler (1981)

Bisler et al. (1979)

Enserink et al. (1991)

Florence et al. (1992)

Guilhermino et al. (1997)

Hare (1992)
28

Hornstrom (1990)

Jonnalagadda and Rao (1993)

Khangarot and Ray (1987)

Kooijman and Bedaux (1996)

Kraak et al. (1994a,b)

LeBlanc (1984)

Mark and Solbe (1998)

Meyer (1999)

Nendza et al. (1997)

Oikari et al. (1992)

Papoutsoglou and Abel (1993)

Pesonen and Andersson (1997)

Phillips and Russo (1978)

Ramesha et al. (1996)

Rice (1984)

Skowronski et al. (1998)

Spry and Wiener (1991)

Thomann et al. (1997)

Thompson et al. (1972)

Toussaint et al. (1995)

Trevors et al. (1986)

Van Leeuwen et al. (1987)

Vymazal (1990)

Wright and Welbourn (1994)

Wong (1987)

Organisms Were Exposed to Cadmium in Food or by Injection or Gavage

Bodar et al. (1988)

Brouwer et al. (1992)

Chou et al. (1986)

Davies et al. (1997)

Decho and Luoma (1994)

Gottofrey and Tjalve (1991)

Handy (1993)

Kluttgen and Ratte (1994)

Kuroshima (1992)

Lasenby and Van Duyn (1992)

Lawrence and Holoka (1991)

Lomagin and Ul’yanova (1993)

Malley and Chang (1991)

Melgar et al. (1997)

Mount et al. (1994)

Munger and Hare (1997)

Postma et al. (1994)

Postma and Davids (1995)

Reinfelder and Fisher (1994, 1994)

Reddy et al. (1997)

Rhodes et al. (1985)

Van den Hurk et al. (1998)

Wallace and Lopez (1997)

Wang and Fisher (1996)

Wen-Xiong and Fisher (1996)

Wong (1989)

No Interpretable Concentration, Time, Response Data or Examined Only a Single Concentration

Berglind (1985)

Bitton et al. (1994)

Block and Part (1992)

Block et al. (1991)

Blondin et al. (1989)

Bowen and Engel (1996)

Bressan and Brunetti (1988)

Castano et al. (1996)

Christoffers and Ernst (1983)

Clausen et al. (1993)

Fargasova (1994)

Fernandez-Pinas et al. (1995)

George et al. (1983)

Iftode et al. (1985)

Ilangovan et al. (1998)

Issa et al. (1995)

Jana and Sahana (1988)

Kluytmans et al. (1988)

Kraak et al. (1993b)

Kosakowska et al. (1988)

Lussier et al. (1999)

Mateo et al. (1993)

Palackova et al. (1994)

Pereira et al. (1993)

Prasad et al. (1998)

Rachlin and Grosso (1991)

Reader et al. (1989)
29

Reddy and Fingerman (1994)

Reid and McDonald (1991)

Ribo (1997), 

Rombough (1985)

Rosas and Ramirez (1993)

Sauvant et al. (1997)

Skowronski et al. (1991)

Sunila and Lindstrom (1985)

Trehan and Maneesha (1994)

Verbost et al. (1987)

Visviki and Rachlin (1994)

Wang et al. (1995)

Woodall et al. (1988)

Wundram et al. (1996)

Xue and Sigg (1998)

No Useable Data on Cadmium Toxicity or Bioconcentration

Battaglini et al. (1993)

Borchardt (1983)

Craig et al. (1998)

Gargiulo et al. (1996)

Gomot (1998)

Harvey and Luoma (1985)

Kraal et al. (1995)

Penttinen et al. (1995)

Rouleau et al. (1998)

Sobhan and Sternberg (1999)

Organisms Were Selected, Adapted or Acclimated for Increased Resistance to Cadmium

Anadu et al. (1989)

Bodar et al. (1990)

Currie et al. (1998)

Ramo et al. (1987)

Herkovits and Perez-Coll (1995)

Kaplan et al. (1995)

McNicol and Scherer (1993)

Madoni et al. (1994)

Nagel and Voigt (1995)

Thomas et al. (1985)

Van Steveninck et al. (1992)

Data were not used if the results were only presented graphically (Laegreild et al. 1983; Laube

1980; Remacle et al. 1982), if the organisms were not exposed to cadmium in water (Foster 1982;

Hatakeyama and Yasuno 1981a; O’Neill 1981), or if there was no pertinent adverse effect (Carr and Neff

1982; DeFilippis et al. 1981; Dickson et al. 1982; Fisher and Fabris 1982; Fisher and Jones 1981; Tucker

and Matte 1980; Watling 1981; Weis et al. 1981). 

Either the Materials, Methods or Results Were Insufficiently Described

Abbasi and Soni (1989)

Ball (1967)

Belabed et al. (1994)

Bendell-Young (1999)

Bitton et al. (1995)

Bjerregaard and Depledge (1994)

Bolanos et al. (1992)

Burnison et al. (1975)

Calevro et al. (1998)

Canton and Slooff (1979)

Carpene and Boni (1992)

D’Aniello et al. (1990)

Davies et al. (1994)

Department of the Environment (1973)

Errecalde et al. (1998)

Fennikoh et al. (1978)

Fernandez-Leborans and Antonio-Garcia

(1988)

Galic and Sipos (1987)

Glubokov (1990)

Gorman and Skogerboe (1987)
30

Guanzon et al. (1994)

Guerin et al. (1994)

Hofslagare et al. (1985)

Janssen and Persoone (1993)

Jaworska et al. (1997)

Kay et al. (1986)

Kessler (1985)

Khangarot et al. (1987)

Koyama et al. (1992)

Landner and Jernelov (1969)

Lee and Oshima (1998)

Liao and Hsieh (1990)

Maas (1978)

Mansour (1993)

Ministry of Technology (1967)

Moza et al. (1995)

Munger et al. (1999)

Naylor et al. (1992)

Nwadukwe and Erondu (1996)

Pascoe and Shazili (1986)

Pauli and Berger (1997)

Penttinen et al. (1998)

Peterson (1991)

Peterson et al. (1984)

Rayms-Keller et al. (1998)

Rombough (1985)

Sandau et al. (1996)

Sekkat et al. (1992)

Shcherban (1977)

Sheela et al. (1995)

Sovenyi and Szakolczai (1993)

Stom and Zubareva (1994)

Stubblefield et al. (1999)

Tarzwell and Henderson (1960)

Verma et al. (1980)

Vykusova and Svobodova (1987)

Wani (1986)

Witeska et al. (1995)

Yamamoto and Inque (1985)

Zhang et al. (1992)

High control mortalities occurred in testing reported by Asato and Reish (1988), Hong and Reish

(1987), Sauter et al. (1976) and Wright (1988). The 96-hr values reported by Buikema et al. (1974a,b) were

subject to error because of possible reproductive interactions (Buikema et al. 1977). Bringmann and Kuhn

(1982) and Dave et al. (1981) cultured daphnids in one water and tested them in a different water. The

acceptability of the dilution water or medium used in some studies (e.g., Brkovic-Popovic and Popovic

1977a,b; Cearley and Coleman 1973, 1974; Nasu et al. 1983) was open to question because of its origin or

content. 

Inappropriate Medium or Medium Contained Too Much of a Complexing Agent for Algal Studies

Baillieul and Blust (1999)

Brand et al. (1986)

Chen et al. (1997)

Couillard (1989)

Hockett and Mount (1996)

Huebert et al. (1993)

Huebert and Shay (1991, 1992, 1993)

Jenkins and Mason (1988)

Jenkins and Sanders (1986)

Jenner and Janssen-Mommen (1993)

Kessler (1986)

Lue-Kim et al. (1980)

Macfie et al. (1994)

Meteyer et al. (1988)

Muller and Payer (1979)

Nasu et al. (1988)

Rebhun and Ben-Amotz (1986, 1988)

 Stary and Kratzer (1982)

Stary et al. (1983)

Sloof et al. (1995)

Sunda and Huntsman (1996)

Thongra-ar and Matsuda (1993)

Thorpe and Costlow (1989)

Tortell and Price (1996)

Vasseur and Pandard (1988)

Wright et al. (1985)

Questionable Treatment of Test Organisms or Inappropriate Test Conditions or Methodology 
31

Babich and Stotsky (1982)

Brown et al. (1984)

Bryan (1971)

Chan et al. (1981)

Dorfman (1977)

Eisler and Gardner (1973)

Greig (1979)

Hung (1982)

Hutcheson (1975)

Moraitou-Apostolopoulou et al. (1979)

Parker (1984)

Pecon and Powell (1981)

Rehwoldt et al. (1972, 1973)

Ridlington et al. (1981)

Servizi and Martens (1978)

Sunda et al. (1978)

Wikfors and Ukeles (1982)

Bioconcentration Studies Conducted in Distilled Water, Not Conducted Long Enough, 

Not Flow-through or Water Concentrations Not Adequately Measured 

Allen (1995)

Amiard et al. (1993)

Amiard-Triquet et al. (1986)

Balogh and Salanki (1984)

Baudrimont et al. (1997)

Beattie and Pascoe (1978)

Bentley (1991)

Berglind (1986)

Bernds (1998)

Bervoets et al. (1995, 1996)

Bjerregaard (1982, 1985, 1991)

Block and Glynn (1992)

Brown et al. (1986)

Burrell and Weihs (1983)

Carmichael and Fowler (1981)

Carr and Neff (1982)

Chan et al. (1992)

Chander et al. (1991)

Chawla et al. (1991)

Chitguppa et al. (1997)

Chou and Uthe (1991)

Collard and Matagne (1994)

Craig et al. (1999)

Davies et al. (1981)

De Conto Cinier et al. (1997)

De Conto Cinier et al. (1998)

De Nicola et al. (1993)

Denton and Burdon-Jones (1981)

Elliott et al. (1985)

Engel (1999)

Everaarts (1990)

Fair and Sick (1983)

Frazier and George (1983)

Freeman (1978, 1980)

Giles (1988)

Gottofrey et al. (1988)

Graney et al. (1984)

Gupta and Devi (1993)

Haines and Brumbaugh (1994)

Hansen et al. (1995)

Hardy and O’Keeffe (1985)

Hashim et al. (1997)

Hatakeyama (1987)

Herwig et al. (1989)

Hollis et al. (1997)

Irato and Piccinni (1996)

John et al. (1987)

Katti and Sathyanesan (1985)

Kerfoot and Jacobs (1976)

Khoshmanesh et al. (1996, 1997)

Klaverkamp and Duncan (1987)

Koelmans et al. (1996)

Kohler and Riisgard (1982)

Kwan and Smith (1991)

Langston and Zhou (1987)

Les and Walker (1984)

McLeese and Ray (1984)

Maeda et al. (1990)

Malley et al. (1989)

Maranhao et al. (1999)

Mersch et al. (1993)

Mizutani et al. (1991)

Muramoto (1980)

Mwangi and Alikhan (1993)

Nolan and Duke (1983)

Norey et al. (1990)

Oakley et al. (1983)

Olesen and Weeks (1994)

Papathanassiou (1986)

Pawlik and Skowronski (1994)

Pawlik et al. (1993)

Pelgrom et al. (1994)

Pelgrom et al. (1997)

Playle and Dixon (1993)

Presing et al. (1993)

Postma et al. (1996)

Poulsen et al. (1982)

Rai et al. 1995

Rainbow (1985)

Ramirez et al. (1989)

Ray et al. (1981)
32

Reichert et al. (1979)

Reinfelder et al. (1997)

Riisgard et al. (1987)

Ringwood (1989, 1992, 1993)

Roseman et al. (1994)

Rubinstein et al. (1983)

Santojanni et al. (1998)

Sedlacek et al. (1989)

Sidoumou et al. (1997)

Simoes Goncalves et al. (1988)

Sinha et al. (1994)

Skowronski and Przytocka-Jusiak (1986)

Srivastava and Appenroth (1995)

Stary et al. (1982)

Sunil et al. (1995)

Suzuki et al. (1987)

Swinehart (1990)

Taylor et al. (1988)

Tessier et al. (1996)

Thomas et al. (1983)

Van Leeuwen et al. (1985)

Van Ginneken et al. (1999)

Vymazal (1995)

Wang and Fisher (1998)

Watling (1983a)

White and Rainbow (1982)

Williams et al. (1998)

Windom et al. (1982)

Winner and Gauss (1986)

Winter (1996)

Woodworth and Pascoe (1983)

Xiaorong et al. (1997)

Yager and Harry (1964)

Zauke et al. (1995)

Zia and McDonald (1994)

The bioconcentration tests of Eisler (1974), Jennings and Rainbow (1979b), O’Hara (1973b),

Phelps (1979), and Sick and Baptist (1979), which used radioactive isotopes of cadmium, were not used

because of the possibility of isotope discrimination. Reports on the concentrations of cadmium in wild

aquatic organisms, such as Anderson et al. (1978), Bouquegneau and Martoja (1982), Boyden (1977),

Bryan et al. (1983), Frazier (1979), Gordon et al. (1980), Greig and Wenzloff (1978), Hazen and Kneip

(1980), Kneip and Hazen (1979), McLeese et al. (1981), Noel-Lambot et al. (1980), Pennington et al.

(1982), Ray et al. (1981), Smith et al. (1981), and Uthe et al. (1982) were not used for the calculation of

bioaccumulation factors due to an insufficient number of measurements of the concentration of cadmium in

the water.

SUMMARY

Freshwater Species Mean Acute Values (SMAV) for cadmium are available for species in 55

genera and hardness adjusted values range from 1.613 μg/L for brown trout to 96,880 μg/L for a midge. 

Freshwater invertebrate SMAVs range from 13.41 μg/L for D. magna to 96,880 μg/L for a midge and

SMAVs for 24 fish species from 1.613 μg/L for the brown trout to 10,663 μg/L for the tilapia. The

antagonistic effect of hardness on acute toxicity has been demonstrated with 12 species. Acceptable

chronic tests have been conducted on cadmium with 14 freshwater fish species and seven invertebrate

species with hardness adjusted Species Mean Chronic Values (SMCV) ranging from 0.2747 μg/L for

Hyalella azteca to 27.17 μg/L for Ceriodaphnia dubia. Acute-chronic ratios are available for six species

and range from 0.9021 for the chinook salmon to 433.8 for the flagfish.

Freshwater aquatic plants are affected by cadmium at concentrations ranging from 2 to 20,000
33

μg/L. These values are in the same range as the acute toxicity values for fish and invertebrate species, and

are considerably above the chronic values. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for cadmium in freshwater

range from 7 to 6,910 for invertebrates and from 3 to 2,213 for fishes.

Saltwater cadmium SMAVs are available for species in 54 genera and SMAVs for 50 species of

invertebrates range from 41.29 μg/L for a mysid to 135,000 μg/L for an oligochaete worm. SMAVs 

for 11 fish species range from 75.0 μg/L for striped bass to 50,000 μg/L for sheepshead minnow. The acute

toxicity of cadmium generally increases as salinity decreases. The effect of temperature seems to be

species-specific. Chronic tests have been conducted with two mysid species, Americamysis bahia and

Mysidopsis bigelowi, with SMCVs of 6.173 μg/L and 7.141 μg/L, respectively. Acute-chronic ratios are

available for each species, 5.384 for A. bahia and 15.40 for M. bigelowi. The acute values appear to reflect

effects of varying salinity and temperature levels, whereas the few available chronic values apparently do

not. 

Studies with macroalgae and microalgae revealed effects at 22.8 to 22,390 μg/L, respectively. 

These values are in the same range as acute toxicity values for fish and invertebrate species, and are above

the chronic values. BCFs determined with a variety of saltwater invertebrates range from 5 to 3,160. BCFs

for bivalve molluscs were generally above 1,000 in long exposures, with no indication that steady-state had

been reached. 

A comparison of the criteria developed in this document with the previous National recommended

water quality criteria (which is based on the 1995 update for freshwater and the 1984 update for saltwater)

indicates that the updated 2001 freshwater CMC of 1.0 μg/L dissolved cadmium has remained

approximately the same (the value was lowered each time to protect the commercially important rainbow

trout), but the freshwater chronic CCC has been lowered to 0.15 μg/L dissolved cadmium in this document

from 1.3 μg/L in the 1995 document. This 2001 update contains a database of 55 freshwater genera for

acute toxicity (43 genera were in the 1995 update), and 15 genera for freshwater chronic toxicity (12 genera

were provided in the 1995 document). As a result of the additional data, the acute and chronic hardness

derived slopes are different in this update relative to previous versions. This update did not use an adjusted

“n” value to calculate the Final Chronic Value (the 1995 update modified the total “n” for the chronic value

to be the same as the acute “n” value). Included in this updated document are toxicity results for certain

threatened and endangered species that were not available earlier. Saltwater cadmium criteria remained

relatively the same between the 1999 National recommended water quality criteria and 2001 documents. 

The new saltwater CMC of 40 μg/L dissolved cadmium presented in this document is only slightly lower

than the 42 μg/L cadmium found in the previous national recommended water quality criteria. The chronic
34

CCC dropped slightly to 8.8 μg/L cadmium in this document from the 9.3 μg/L value previously

recommended. There are 54 genera in the acute saltwater database of this document (the 1984 document

had 33 genera), and the same two saltwater chronic genera are presented in both documents (a third A.

bahia chronic value was added to this document).

NATIONAL CRITERIA

The available toxicity data, when evaluated using the procedures described in the “Guidelines for

Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their

Uses” indicate that, except possibly where a locally important species is unusually sensitive, freshwater

aquatic life should be protected at a total hardness of 50 mg/L as CaCO3 if the four-day average

concentration (in μg/L) of dissolved cadmium does not exceed the numerical value given by 0.938

[e

(0.7409[ln(hardness)]-4.719)] more than once every three years on the average, and if the 24-hour average

dissolved concentration (in μg/L) does not exceed the numerical value given by 0.973

[e

(1.0166[ln(hardness)]-3.924)] more than once every three years on the average. For example, at hardnesses

of 50, 100, and 200 mg/L as CaCO3 the four-day average dissolved concentrations of cadmium are 0.15,

0.25 and 0.40 μg/L, respectively, and the 24-hour average dissolved concentrations are 1.0, 2.0, and 3.9

μg/L. 

The procedures described in the “Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality

Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses” indicate that, except possibly where a

locally important species is unusually sensitive, saltwater aquatic life should be protected if the four-day

average dissolved concentration of cadmium does not exceed 8.8 μg/L more than once every three years on

the average and if the 24-hour average dissolved concentration does not exceed 40 μg/L more than once

every three years on the average. However, the limited data suggest that the acute toxicity of cadmium is

salinity-dependent; therefore the 24-hour average concentration might be underprotective at low salinities

and overprotective at high salinities.

U.S. EPA believes that the use of dissolved cadmium will provide a more scientifically correct

basis upon which to establish water-column criteria for metals. The criteria were developed on this basis. 

The use of dissolved criteria reduces the amount of conservatism that was present in earlier cadmium

criteria. It is recognized that a considerable proportion of dissolved cadmium in organic-rich waters may

be less toxic than freely dissolved cadmium. On the other hand, some particulate forms of cadmium might
35

contribute to cadmium loading of organisms, possibly through ingestion. 

A return interval of three years continues to be the Agency’s general recommendation. The

resilience of ecosystems and their ability to recover differ greatly, however, and site-specific criteria may

be established if adequate justification is provided.

The use of criteria in designing waste treatment facilities requires the selection of an appropriate

wasteload allocation model. Dynamic models are preferred for the application of these criteria. Limited

data or other factors may make their use impractical, in which case one should rely on a steady-state model. 

The Agency recommends the interim use of 1Q5 or 1Q10 for Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC)

design flow and 7Q5 or 7Q10 for the Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) design flow in steadystate models for unstressed and stressed systems respectively. These matters are discussed in more detail in

the Technical Support Document for Water Quality-Based Toxics Control (U.S. EPA 1991).
1 10 100 1000

0.1

1

10

10 2

10 310 410 510 6

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)

Comparison of Freshwater Acute Values

with Hardness Slope Derived CMC

Total Hardness (mg/L CaCO3)

1995 CMC2001 CMC

Figure 1. Comparison of All Table 1 Freshwater Acute Toxicity Test EC50s and LC50s with the Hardness Slope De

(2001 CMC: solid line; 1995 CMC: dashed line)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

% Rank GMAVs

0.1

1

10

102

103104105

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs Freshwater Final Acute Value* = 2.1 μg/L dissolved cadmium @ 50 mg/L total hardness Criteria Maximum Concentration = 1.0 μg/L dissolved cadmium @ 50 mg/L total hardness Freshwater

 Freshwater Invertebrates

 Freshwater Fish Freshwater Amphibians

* (lowered to protect rainbow trout)

Figure 2. Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs (Freshwater).
38

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

% Rank of GMAVs

10

102

103104105106

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)

Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs

Saltwater

Saltwater Final Acute Value = 80.1 μg/L total cadmium

Criteria Maximum Concentration = 40 μg/L dissolved cadmium

 Saltwater Invertebrates Saltwater Fish

Figure 3. Ranked Summary of Cadmium GMAVs (Saltwater).
10 100 1000

0.01

0.1

1

10

10 2

10 3

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)

Comparison of Freshwater Chronic Values

with the Hardness Slope Derived CCC

Total Hardness (mg/L CaCO3)

1995 CCC

2001 CCC

Figure 4. Comparison of All Table 2 Freshwater Chronic Values with the Hardness Slope Derived CCC. 

 (2001 CCC: solid line; 1995 CCC: dashed line)
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

% Rank Genus Mean Chronic Value

0.01

0.1

1

10

102

Chronic Value (μg/L)

Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Aquatic Animals

Freshwater Final Chronic Value = 0.15 μg/L dissolved cadmium @ 50 mg/L total hardness

Saltwater Final Chronic Value = 8.8 μg/L dissolved cadmium

Freshwater Fish

Freshwater Invertebrate

 Saltwater Invertebrate

Figure 5. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Aquatic Animals.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 

Freshwater Plant Test

0.1

1

10

10 2

10 310 410 5

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)

Freshwater Plant Toxicity Values

CMC=1.0 μg/L dissolved cadmium @ 50 mg/L total hardness

CCC=0.15 μg/L dissolved cadmium @ 50 mg/L total hardness

Figure 6. Comparison of Freshwater Plant Toxicity Values (Table 4) and Freshwater CMC and CCC Values.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Saltwater Plant Test

0.1

1

10

102

103104105

Cadmium Effect Concentration (μg/L)

Saltwater Plant Toxicity Values

CMC=40 μg/L dissolved cadmium

CCC=8.8 μg/L dissolved cadmium

Figure 7. Comparison of Saltwater Plant Toxicity Values (Table 4) and Saltwater CMC and CCC Values.
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Planarian,Dendrocoelumlacteum

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87 24,702 23,220 14,067 14,

Worm (adult),Lumbriculusvariegatus

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

290

(280-300)

780 - 130.6 13

Tubificid worm, Branchiura sowerbyi

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 240 - 2,350 2,3

Tubificid worm, Limnodrilushoffmeisteri

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 170 - 1,665 

Tubificid worm (30-40 mm)Limnodrilushoffmeisteri

F, M, T - 152 2,400 - 775.0 77

Tubificid worm,Quistadrilusmultisetosus

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 320 - 3,133 3,

Tubificid worm,Rhyacodrilusmontana

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 630 - 6,169 6,

Tubificid worm,Spirosperma ferox

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 350 - 3,427 3,4

Tubificid worm,Spirosperma nikolskyi

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 450 - 4,406 4,4

Tubificid worm,Stylodrilusheringlianus

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 550 - 5,386 5,3

Tubificid worm,Tubifex tubifex

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

128

(119-137)

3,200 - 1,231 

Tubificid worm,Tubifex tubifex

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

128

(119-137)

1,700 - 653.8 

Tubificid worm,Tubifex tubifex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,032 - - 

Tubificid worm, S, M Cadmium 5.3 320 - 3,133 1,3
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Tubificid worm,Varichaeta pacifica

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 380 - 3,721 3,7

Leech, Glossiponiacomplanta

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

122.8 480 - 192.5 19

Snail,Aplexa hypnorum

F, M Cadmium

chloride

45.3 93 - 102.8 

Snail (adult),Aplexa hypnorum

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 93 - 104.9 10

Snail (adult),Physa gyrina

S, M - 200 1,370 - 334.7d 

Snail (immature),Physa gyrina

S, M - 200 410 - 100.2 10

Mussel (juvenil), Actinonaia pectorosa

S,M,T - 82 46.4 - 28.06 

Mussel (juvenile), Actinonaia pectorosa

S,M,T - 84 69 - 40.72 33

Mussel (juvenile), Lampsilis stramineaclaibornensis

S,M,T - 40 38 - 47.68 47

Mussel, Lampsilis teres

S,M,T - 40 11 - 13.80 

Mussel (juvenile), Lampsilis teres

S,M,T - 40 33 - 41.40 23

Mussel, Utterbackia imbecilis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 114.7 - 63.10 

Mussel, Utterbackia imbecilis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 111.8 - 61.51 

Mussel (juvenile), Utterbackia imbecilis

S,M,T Cadmium

chloride

92 81.9 - 44.06 

Mussel (juvenile), S,M,T Cadmium 86 93.0 - 53.59 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mussel (juvenile), Utterbackia imbecilis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

39 9 - 11.59 

Mussel (juvenile), Utterbackia imbecilis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 107 - 58.87 42

Mussel,Vilosa vibex

S, M, T - 40 30 - 37.64 

Mussel,Vilosa vibex

S, M, T - 186 125 - 32.88 35

Cladoceran, Alona affinis

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

109 546 - 247.2 24

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

 90

(80-100)

54 - 29.71 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

80

(70-90)

54.5 - 33.80 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

90

(80-100)

55.9 - 30.75 31

Cladoceran (<24 hr)Ceriodaphniareticulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

240 184 - 37.35 

Cladoceran (<6 hr) Ceriodaphniareticulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 110 - 45.17 41

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- <1.6h - - 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

45 65 - 72.35 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

- 27.07 - - 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

- 28.36 - - 

Cladoceran (<24 hr), S, U Cadmium - 35.45 - - 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

R, M Cadmium

Chloride

105 30 - 14.11 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

R, M Cadmium

Chloride

209.2 30 - 7.002 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 20 - 8.213 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 40 - 16.43 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

240 178 - 36.13 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

3.6

(genotype A)

- 1.038 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.0

(genotype A-1)

- 2.594 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.0

(genotype A-2)

- 2.594 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

4.5

(genotype B)

- 1.297 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

27.1

(genotype E)

- 7.810 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

115.9

(genotype S-1)

- 33.40 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

24.5 

(Clone F)

- 7.061 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

129.4

(Clone S-1)

- 37.29 

Cladoceran (3 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

25.4

(Clone F)

- 7.320f 

Cladoceran (3 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

228.8

(Clone S-1)

- 65.94f 

Cladoceran (6 d), S, M, T Cadmium 170 49.1 - 14.15f 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (6 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

250.1

(Clone S-1)

- 72.08f 

Cladoceran (10 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

131.2

(Clone F)

- 37.81f 

Cladoceran (10 d), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

319.3

(Clone S-1)

- 92.02f 

Cladoceran (20 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

139.9

(Clone F)

- 40.32f 

Cladoceran (20 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

326.3

(Clone S-1)

- 94.04f 

Cladoceran (30 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

146.7

(Clone F)

- 42.28f 

Cladoceran (30 d),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

355.3

(Clone S-1)

- 102.4f 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 360 - - 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

250 280 - 54.52 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.5 - 2.738 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

46.1 112

(clone S-1)

104 121.6 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

90.7 106

(clone S-1)

91.4 57.86 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

179 233 

(clone S-1)

179 63.72 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

46.1 30.1

(clone A)

27.8 32.69 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

90.7 23.4

(clone A)

20.2 12.77 

Cladoceran, S, M, T Cadmium 179 23.6 18.1 6.454 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

51 9.9 - 9.703 

Cladoceran (<24 hr)Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

104 33 - 15.67 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

105 34 - 15.99 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

197 63 - 15.63 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

209 49 - 11.45 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

F, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

130 58 - 21.96 13

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

- 90.23 - - 

Cladoceran,Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

57 47 - 41.14 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

240 319 - 64.75 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 80 - 32.85 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 100 - 41.07 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

53.5 70.1 - 65.44 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

85

(80-90)

66 - 38.48 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

85

(80-90)

99 - 57.72 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

85

(80-90)

70 - 40.82 46

Cladoceran, S, U Cadmium 82 71.25 - 43.09 43
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran,Simocephalusserrulatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

11.1 7.0 - 32.33 

Cladoceran,Simocephalusserrulatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

(39-48)

24.5 - 28.23 30

Copepod, Cyclops varicans

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

109 493 - 223.2 22

Isopod,Asellus bicrenata

F, M Cadmium

chloride

220 2,129g - 472.1 47

Isopod,Lirceus alabamae

F, M Cadmium

chloride

152 150g - 48.44 48

Amphipod (4 mm),Crangonyxpseudogracilis

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 1,700 - 1,700 1,7

Amphipod,Gammaruspseudolimnaeus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

(39-48)

68.3 - 78.69 78

Crayfish (1.8 g),Orconectes immunis

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 >10,200 - >11,509 >11

Crayfish,Orconectes limosus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

- 400 - - 

Crayfish,Orconectes virilis

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

26 6,100 - 11,859 11,

Crayfish (juvenile),Procambarus clarkii

S, M Cadmium

chloride

30 1,040 - 1,748 1,7

Mayfly,Ephemerella grandis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 28,000 - - 

Mayfly,Ephemerella grandis

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

44 2,000 - 2,278 2,2

Stonefly,Pteronarcella badia

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 18,000 - - 

Midge (4th instar), R, M, T Cadmium 124 140,000 - 55,607 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Midge (10-12 mm),Chironomus riparius

F, M, T - 152 300,000 - 96,880 96,

Bryozoan,Pectinatellamagnifica

S, U - 205

(190-220)

700 - 166.8 16

Bryozoan,Lophopodella carteri

S, U - 205

(190-220)

150 - 35.74 35

Bryozoan,Plumatellaemarginata

S, U - 205

(190-220)

1,090 - 259.7 25

Coho salmon (1 year),Oncorhynchus kisutch

S, U Cadmium

chloride

90 10.4 - 5.722 

Coho salmon(juvenile),Oncorhynchus kisutch

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 3.4 - 4.160 

Coho salmon (adult),Oncorhynchus kisutch

F, M Cadmium

chloride

22 17.5d - 40.32d 

Coho salmon (parr),Oncorhynchus kisutch

F, M Cadmium

chloride

22 2.7 - 6.221 6.2

Chinook salmon (9-13 wk),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

S, U Cadmium

chloride

211 26 - 6.016 

Chinook salmon (18-21 wk),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

S, U Cadmium

chloride

343 57 - 8.048 

Chinook salmon(alevin),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 >26d - >57.26d 

Chinook salmon(swim-up),Oncorhynchus

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 1.8 - 3.964 

Chinook salmon F, M Cadmium 23 3.5 - 7.707 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Chinook salmon(smolt),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 >2.9 - >6.386 

Chinook salmon(juvenile),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

25 1.41 - 2.853 

Chinook salmon(juvenile),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

21

(20-22)

1.1 - 2.657 4.3

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, U - - 6 - - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, U - - 7 - - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 6.0 - - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

(39-48)

 2.3 - 2.650 

Rainbow trout(juvenile),Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 1.5 - 1.835 

Rainbow trout(alevin),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 >27d - >59.46d 

Rainbow trout (swim-up),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 1.3 - 2.863 

Rainbow trout (parr),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 1.0 - 2.202 

Rainbow trout(smolt),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 4.1

>2.9

- 9.029

>6.386

Rainbow trout (2 mo), F, M Cadmium - 6.6 - - 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

31 1.75 - 2.845 

Rainbow trout (8.8 g),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 3 - 3.385 

Rainbow trout (fry),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

9.2 <0.5 - <2.795 

Rainbow trout (263 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.7 0.71

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 1.166 

Rainbow trout (659 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

29.3 0.47

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 0.8092 

Rainbow trout (1150 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

31.7 0.51

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 0.8105 

Rainbow trout(1130 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.2 0.38

(pH=7.5 @ 12°C)

- 0.6344 

Rainbow trout (299 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.0 1.29

(pH=6.5 @ 8°C)

- 2.168 

Rainbow trout (289 mg),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

89.3 2.85

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 1.581 2.

Brown trout,Salmo trutta

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

(39-48)

 1.4 - 1.613 1.6

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

47.4 5,080e - 5,363e 

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

42 <1.5 - <1.791 <1.

Bull trout (76.1 mg),Salvelinus confluentus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.7 0.91

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 1.494 

Bull trout (200 mg), F, M, T Cadmium 29.3 0.99 - 1.705 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Bull trout (221 mg),Salvelinus confluentus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

31.7 1.00

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 1.589 

Bull trout (218 mg),Salvelinus confluentus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.2 0.90

(pH=7.5 @ 12°C)

- 1.503 

Bull trout (84.2 mg),Salvelinus confluentus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.0 2.89

(pH=6.5 @ 8°C)

- 4.858 

Bull trout (72.7 mg),Salvelinus confluentus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

89.3 6.06

(pH=7.5 @ 8°C)

- 3.361 2.

Goldfish,Carassius auratus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 2,340 - 5,940 

Goldfish,Carassius auratus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

20 2,130 - 5,407 

Goldfish,Carassius auratus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

140 46,800 - 16,431 

Goldfish (8.8 g),Carassius auratus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 748 - 844.0 84

Common carp (yolk absorbed),Cyprinus carpio

R, U Cadmium

chloride

- 140 - - 

Common carp (fry), Cyprinus carpio

R, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,840 - - 

Common carp (advanced fry),Cyprinus carpio

R, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,910 - - 

Common carp(fingerling), Cyprinus carpio

R, U Cadmium

chloride

- 4,560 - - 

Common carp (fry), Cyprinus carpio

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

100 4,300 - 2,125 

Common carp(fingerling), Cyprinus carpio

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

100 17,100 - 8,452 4,2

Red shiner S, M, T Cadmium 85.5 6,620 - 3,837 3,8
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,050d - 2,665d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 630d - 1,599d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 72,600d - 9,758d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 73,500d - 9,879d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 11,200d - 2,722d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 12,000d - 2,917d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 6,400d 4,600d 1,556d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 2,000d 1,400d 486.2d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 4,500d 2,800d 1,094d 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

40 21.5 - 26.97 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

48 11.7 - 12.20 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

39 19.3 - 24.85 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

45 42.4 - 47.19 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

47 54.2 - 57.72 

Fathead minnow (fry),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

44 29.0 - 33.02 

Fathead minnow S, M Cadmium 103 3,060d - 1,468d 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow(adult),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

103 2,900d - 1,391d 

Fathead minnow(adult),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

103 3,100d - 1,487d 

Fathead minnow(adult),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

262.5

(254-271)

7,160d - 1,327d 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

(39-48)

1,280d - 1,475d 

Fathead minnow (14-30 d),Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 >150h - >61.60h 

Fathead minnow(0.8 - 2.0 g)Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

85.5 3,580d - 2,075d 

Fathead minnow(<24 hr),Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

60 210 - 174.5 

Fathead minnow (1-2 d),Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

60 180 - 149.5 

Fathead minnow (<24hr),Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

290

(280-300)

73 (pH=6-6.5)60 (pH=7-7.5)65 (pH=8-8.8)

---

12.22

10.0510.88

Fathead minnow(juvenile),Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

141 3,420d 2,590 1,192d 

Fathead minnow(juvenile),Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

141 3,510d 2,430 1,223d 

Fathead minnow (0.6 g),

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 1,500d - 1,693d 

Fathead minnow F, M, T Cadmium 44 13.2 - 15.03 29
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Colorado squawfish(larva), Ptychocheilus lucius

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 78 - 19.15 

Colorado squawfish(juvenile),Ptychocheilus lucius

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 108 - 26.52 22

Northern pikeminnow (juvenile),Ptychocheilusoregonensis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

25

(20-30)

1,092 - 2,209 

Northern pikeminnow (juvenile),Ptychocheilusoregonensis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

25

(20-30)

1,104 - 2,234 2,2

Bonytail (larva), Gila elegans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 148 - 36.34 

Bonytail (juvenile), Gila elegans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 168 - 41.25 38

White sucker, Catostomuscommersoni

F, M Cadmium

chloride

18 1,110 - 3,136 3,

Razorback sucker(larva),Xyrauchen texanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 139 - 34.13 

Razorback sucker(juvenile), Xyrauchen texanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

199 160 - 39.29 36

Channel catfish (7.4 g),Ictalurus punctatus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 4,480 - 5,055 5,0

Flagfish, Jordanella floridae

F, M Cadmium

chloride

44 2,500 - 2,847 2,8

Mosquitofish, F, M Cadmium 11.1 900 - 4,157 
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

11.1 2,200 - 10,161 6,4

Guppy, Poecilia reticulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,270 - 3,224 

Guppy (3-4 wk), Poecilia reticulata

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

105 3,800 - 1,787 

Guppy (3-4 wk), Poecilia reticulata

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

209.2 11,100 - 2,591 2,4

Threespinestickleback,Gasterosteusaculeatus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

115 6,500 - 2,787 

Threespinestickleback,Gasterosteusaculeatus

R, M Cadmium

chloride

107

(103-111)

23,000 - 10,613 5,4

Striped bass (larva), Morone saxatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

34.5 1 - 1.458e 

Striped bass(fingerling),Morone saxatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

34.5 2 - 2.917e 

Striped bass (63 d),Morone saxatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

40 4 - 5.019 

Striped bass (63 d),Morone saxatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

285 10 - 1.704 2.9

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 2,840 - 7,208 

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 66,000 - 8,871 

Green sunfish(juvenile), 

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

85.5 11,520 - 6,677 

Green sunfish, F, M Cadmium 335 20,500 - 2,965 2,9
Table 1a. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50

(Diss. μg/L)

LC50 or EC50

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

Specie

Acute V

TH

(Total 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,940 - 4,924 

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

18 2,300 - 6,498 

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

18 2,300 - 6,498 

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

F, M Cadmium

chloride

207 21,100 - 4,978 

Bluegill (1.0 g),Lepomis macrochirus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 6,470 - 7,300 6,0

Tilapia Oreochromismossambica

R, U Cadmium

chloride

28.4 6,000d - 10,663 10,

African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

R, U Cadmium

chloride

116

(112-120)

3,597 - 1,529 1,5

Salamander (3 mo larva),Ambystoma gracile

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

45 468.4 - 521.4 52

a S=static, R=renewal, F=flow-through, M=measured, U=unmeasured, T=total measured concentration, D=dissolved metal concentration measured.b Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.c Freshwater Species Mean Acute Values are calculated at a hardness of 50 mg/L using the pooled slope. SMAVs calculated using Lotus spreadsheet, va calculated with a hand held calculator due to rounding. 

Note: Each SMAV was calculated from the associated underlined number(s) in the preceding column.

d Not used in calculations because data are available for a more sensitive life stage.e Not used in calculations (see text).f Not used in calculations because data are available for a more sensitive test condition.g Average of values calculated using log-probit and Spearman-Karber statistical methods.h “Greater than” and “less than” values were not used in calculations.
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity 

 (g/kg) 

LC50 or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

 (Total μg/L) 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Polychaete worm (adult),Neanthes arenaceodentata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 12,000 - - 

Polychaete worm (juvenile), Neanthes arenaceodentata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 12,500 - - 

Polychaete worm, Neanthes arenaceodentata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 14,100 - 12,836 

Polychaete worm, Nereis grubei

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 4,700 - 4,700 

Sand worm,Nereis virens

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 11,000 - - 

Sand worm, Nereis virens

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 9,300 - 10,114 

Polychaete worm (adult),Capitella capitata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 7,500c - - 

Polychaete worm,Capitella capitata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,800c - - 

Polychaete worm (larva), Capitella capitata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 200 - 200 

Polychaete worm, Pectinaria californiensis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,600 - 2,600 

Oligochaete worm,Limnodriloides verrucosus

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

- 10,000 - 10,000 

Oligochaete worm, Monopylephorus cuticulatus

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

- 135,000 - 135,000 

Oligochaete worm, Tubificoides gabriellae

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

- 24,000 - 24,000 

Oyster drill, Urosalpinx cinerea

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 6,600 - 6,600 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mud snail, Nassarius obsoletus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 10,500 - - 

Mud snail, Nassarius obsoletus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 35,000 - 19,170 

Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 25,000c - - 

Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

S, M Cadmium

chloride

- 1,620c - - 

Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 3,600c - - 

Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 4,300c - - 

Blue mussel (embryo), Mytilus edulis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,200 - - 

Blue Mussel (juvenile),Mytilus edulis

R, U Cadmium

chloride

2.5 960 - 1,073 

Bay scallop (juvenile),Argopecten irradians

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,480 - 1,480 

Pacific oyster (embryo),Crassostrea gigas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 611 - - 

Pacific oyster (larva),Crassostrea gigas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 85 - 227.9 

Eastern oyster (larva),Crassostrea virginica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 3,800 - 3,800 

Soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,200 - - 

Soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,500 - - 

Soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 850 - 1,672 

Squid (larva),Loligo opalescens

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 >10,200 - >10,200 

Copepod, S, U Cadmium - 1,708 - 1,708 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Copepod,Eurytemora affinis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,080c - - 

Copepod (naupilus),Eurytemora affinis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 147.7 - 147.7 

Copepod,Acartia clausi

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 144 - 144 

Copepod,Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 90 - - 

Copepod,Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 122 - - 

Copepod,Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 220 - - 

Copepod,Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 337 - - 

Copepod (adult),Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

15 93 (18

NC) - - 

Copepod (adult),Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 151 (13

NC) - - 

Copepod (adult),Acartia tonsa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 29 (21

NC) - 118.7 

Copepod, Amphiascus tenuiremis

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

30.7 224 - 224 

Copepod, Nitocra spinipes

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,800 - - 

Copepod, Nitocra spinipes

F, U Cadmium

chloride

3 430 - - 

Copepod, Nitocra spinipes

F, U Cadmium

chloride

7 660 - - 

Copepod, Nitocra spinipes

F, U Cadmium

chloride

15 780 - 794.5 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mysid (7 d),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T, D Cadmium

chloride

6 14.7 2.8 - 

Mysid (7 d),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T, D Cadmium

chloride

14 38.0 3.6 - 

Mysid (7 d),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T, D Cadmium

chloride

22 70.4 4.1 - 

Mysid (7 d),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T, D Cadmium

chloride

30 77.3 2.9 - 

Mysid (7 d),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T, D Cadmium

chloride

38 90.3 2.3 - 

Mysid (<24 hr),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T - 10 30.9 (20

NC)

<11.1 (30

NC)

--

--

Mysid (<24 hr),Americamysis bahia

S, M, T - 30 82.0 (20

NC)

32.8 (25

NC)

<11.1 (30

NC)

---

---

Mysid, Americamysis bahia

F, M Cadmium

chloride

10-17 15.5 - - 

Mysid, Americamysis bahia

F, M Cadmium

chloride

30 110 - 41.29 

Mysid, Mysidopsis bigelowi

F, M Cadmium

chloride

30 110 - 110 

Iosopd, Jaeropsis sp.

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 410.0 - 410.0 

Isopod, Limnoria tripunctata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 7,120 - 7,120 

Amphipod (adult),Ampelisca abdita

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 2,900 - 2,900 

Amphipod (adult),Marinogammarus obtusatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

- 13,000c - - 

Amphipod (young),Marinogammarus obtusatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

- 3,500 - 3,500 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Amphipod, Chelura terebrans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 630 - 630 

Amphipod,Corophium insidiosum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 1,270 - - 

Amphipod (8-12 mm),Corophium insidiosum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 680 - 929.3 

Amphipod (juvenile),Diporeia spp.

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

20 (4

NC)

 20 (10

NC)

 20 (15

NC)

49,400d

17,500d

6,700

---

--

6,700

Amphipod,Elasmopus bampo

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 570 - - 

Amphipod (8-12 mm),Elasmopus bampo

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 900 - 716.2 

Amphipod (3-5 mm),Eohaustorius estuarius

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 41,900

(held 11 d before

testing)

36,100

(held 17 d before

testing)

14,500

(held 121 d before

testing)

---

--

27,992

Amphipod,Grandidierella japonica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 1,170 - 1,170 

Amphipod (500 μm),Leptocheirus plumulosus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

8 360 - - 

Amphipod (700 μm),Leptocheirus plumulosus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

8 650 - - 

Amphipod (1,000 μm),Leptocheirus plumulosus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

8 880 - 590.5 

Pink shrimp (subadult),Penaeus duorarum

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 3,500c - - 

Pink shrimp (2nd post larva),

Penaeus duorarum

S, U cadmium

chloride

25 310.5 - 310.5 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Grass shrimp (adult),Palaemonetes pugio

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,830

(Big Sheepshead

Creek)

- - 

Grass shrimp (adult),Palaemonetes pugio

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 3,280

(Pine Creek)

- - 

Grass shrimp (juvenile).Palaemonetes pugio

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 1,300 - 1,983 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes vulgaris

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 420 - - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes vulgaris

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 760 - 760 

Sand shrimp,Crangon septemspinosa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 320 - 320 

American Lobster (larva),Homarus americanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 78 - 78 

Hermit crab,Pagurus longicarpus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 320 - - 

Hermit crab,Pagurus longicarpus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,300 - 645.0 

Rock crab (zoea),Cancer irroratus

F, M Cadmium

chloride

- 250 - 250 

Dungeness crab (zoea),Cancer magister

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 247 - - 

Dungeness crab (zoea),Cancer magister

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 200 - 222.3 

Blue crab (juvenile),Callinectes sapidus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 11,600 - - 

Blue crab (juvenile),Callinectes sapidus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

15 4,700 - - 

Blue crab (juvenile),Callinectes sapidus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

1 320 - 2,594 

Green crab, Carcinus maenas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 4,100 - 4,100 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 46,600 - - 

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

30 37,000 - - 

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

10 32,300 - - 

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 23,300 - - 

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 10,400 - - 

Fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 6,800 - 21,238 

Starfish,Asterias forbesi

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 820 - - 

Starfish,Asterias forbesi

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 7,100 - 2,413 

Green sea urchin (embryo),Strongylocentrotusdroebachiensis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 1,800 - 1,800 

Purple sea urchin (embryo),Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 500 - 500 

Sand dollar (embryo),Dendraster excentricus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 7,400 - 7,400 

Coho salmon (smolt),Oncorhynchus kisutch

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

28.3 1,500 - 1,500 

Sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 50,000 - 50,000 

Mummichog (adult),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 49,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 114,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile), S, U Cadmium 20 92,000 - - 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 78,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

10 73,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

10 63,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

32 31,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

32 30,000 - - 

Mummichog (juvenile),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

32 29,000 - - 

Mummichog (adult),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 22,000 - - 

Mummichog (12-20 mm),Fundulus heteroclitus

F, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

14 18,200 - 18,200 

Striped killifish (adult),Fundulus majalis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 21,000 - 21,000 

Rivulus (30 d juvenile)Rivulus marmoratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 18,800c - - 

Rivulus (120 d adult),Rivulus marmoratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 32,200c - - 

Rivulus (11-18 mm),Rivulus marmoratus

F, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

14 23,700c - - 

Rivulus (11-18 mm),Rivulus marmoratus

F, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

14 18,500c - - 

Rivulus (7 d larva),Rivulus marmoratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 800 - 800 

Atlantic silverside (adult),Menidia menidia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 2,032c - - 

Atlantic silverside (juvenile),Menidia menidia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 28,532c - - 

Atlantic silverside (juvenile), S, U Cadmium - 13,652c - - 
Table 1b. Acute Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

LC50

or EC50

 (Total μg/L)b

LC50 or EC50 (Diss.

μg/L)

Species Mea

 Acute Value (T

μg/L)c 

SALTWATER SPECIES

Atlantic silverside (larva),Menidia menidia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 1,054 - - 

Atlantic silverside (larva),Menidia menidia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 577 - 779.8 

Striped bass (63 d),Morone saxatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

1 75.0 - 75.0 

Cabezon (larva),Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

27 >200 - >200.0 

Shiner perch (87 mm adult),Cymatogaster aggregata

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30.1 11,000 - 11,000 

Striped mullet (50 mm juvenile),Mugil cephalus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

37.3 28,000c - - 

Striped mullet (10 mm fry),Mugil cephalus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

37.3 7,079 - 7,079 

Winter flounder (larva),Pseudopleuronectesamericanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 602e - - 

Winter flounder (larva),Pseudopleuronectesamericanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 14,297 - 14,297 

a S=static, R=renewal, F=flow-through, M=measured, U=unmeasured, T=total measured concentration, D=dissolved metal concentration measured.b Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.c Not used in calculations because data are available for a more sensitive life stage.d Not used in calculations because data are available for a more sensitive test condition.e Not used in calculations because this lower value was obtained in artificial sea water.
Table 1c. Results of Covariance Analysis of Freshwater Acute Toxicity Versus Hardness

Species

n Slope

R2 Value 95% Confidence Limits Deg

Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri 2 0.7888 --- cannot calculate Tubifex tubifex 3 0.6238 0.929 -1.5619, 2.8095 Vilosa vibex 2 0.9286 --- cannot calculate Daphnia magna(all data)

28 0.1086 0.002 -0.7975, 1.0147 

Daphnia magna(Chapman et al. Manuscript)

5 1.1824* 0.915 0.5195, 1.8454 

Daphnia pulex 8 1.0633* 0.792 0.5191, 1.6074 Chinook salmon 6 1.2576* 0.947 0.8461, 1.6691 Goldfish 4 1.4608 0.570 -2.3973, 5.3190 Fathead minnow (all data) 28 2.0305* 0.450 1.1247, 2.9362 Fathead minnow (adults only) 18 1.2209* 0.699 0.7962, 1.6456 Guppy 3 0.8752 0.949 -1.6995, 3.4499 Striped bass 4 0.8089 0.722 -0.7182, 2.3359 Green sunfish 4 0.8986 0.880 -0.1127, 1.9098 Bluegill 5 0.9531* 0.974 0.6667, 1.2395 All of above using all data forD. magna

97 1.1741*@ 0.778 0.8346, 1.5136 

All of above except using onlydata from Chapman et al.(Manuscript) for D. magna and

only adult fathead minnow data

64 1.0166*# 0.967 0.9745, 1.0588 

* Slope is significantly different than 0 (p<0.05). @ Individual slopes not significantly different (p=0.27).# Individual slopes not significantly different (p=0.69).
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Tubificid worm, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 170 Ch

Tubificid worm (30-40 mm),Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

F, M, T - 152 2,400 Wi

Tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

128

(119-137)

3,200 Rey

Tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

128

(119-137)

1,700 Rey

Tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex S, M Cadmium

sulfate

5.3 320 Ch

Mussel, Vilosa vibex S, M, T - 40 30 Kel

Mussel, Vilosa vibex S, M, T - 186 125 Kel

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

chloride

45 65 Bie

197

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna R, M Cadmium

Chloride

105 30 Can

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna R, M Cadmium

Chloride

209.2 30 Can

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 20 Hal

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 40 Hal
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

chloride

240 178 Eln

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

3.6

(genotype A)

Bai

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.0

(genotype A-1)

Bai

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.0

(genotype A-2)

Bai

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

4.5

(genotype B)

Bai

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

27.1

(genotype E)

Bai

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

115.9

(genotype S-1)

Bai

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

24.5 

(Clone F)

Stu

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

129.4

(Clone S-1)

Stu

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

sulfate

250 280 Cri

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, U Cadmium

chloride

170

(160-180)

9.5 Gu

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

46.1 112

(clone S-1)

Bar

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

90.7 106

(clone S-1)

Bar
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

179 233 

(clone S-1)

Bar

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

46.1 30.1

(clone A)

Bar

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

90.7 23.4

(clone A)

Bar

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

179 23.6

(clone A)

Bar

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

51 9.9 Ch

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

104 33 Cha

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

105 34 Cha

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

197 63 Cha

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna S, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

209 49 Cha

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna F, M, T Cadmium

Chloride

130 58 Att

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

57 47 Ber

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

240 319 Eln

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 80 Hal
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

120 100 Hal

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

53.5 70.1 Sta

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

85

(80-90)

66 Rou

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

(85)

(80-90)

99 Rou

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex S, U Cadmium

chloride

85

(80-90)

70 Rou

Chinook salmon (9-13 wk), Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

S, U Cadmium

chloride

211 26 Ham

Chinook salmon (18-21 wk), Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

S, U Cadmium

chloride

343 57 Ham

Chinook salmon (swim-up),Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 1.8 Ch

Chinook salmon (parr),Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

23 3.5 Ch

Chinook salmon (juvenile),Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

chloride

25 1.41 Ch

Chinook salmon (juvenile),Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

F, M Cadmium

sulfate

21

(20-22)

1.1 Fin

Goldfish, Carassius auratus S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 2,340 Pic

196

Goldfish, Carassius auratus S, M Cadmium 20 2,130 Mc
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Goldfish, Carassius auratus S, M Cadmium

chloride

140 46,800 Mc

Goldfish (8.8 g), Carassius auratus F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 748 Phi

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,050d Pic

196

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 630d Pic

196

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 72,600d Pic

196

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 73,500d Pic

196

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 11,200d Pic

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 12,000d Pic

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 6,400d Pic

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 2,000d Pic

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas F, M Cadmium

sulfate

201 4,500d Pic

Fathead minnow (adult), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

103 3,060d Bir

Fathead minnow (adult),Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

103 2,900d Bir
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow (adult), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

103 3,100d Bir

Fathead minnow (adult), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

262.5

254-271

7,160d Bir

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

43.5

39-48

1,280d Spe

Fathead minnow (0.8 - 2.0 g), Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

85.5 3,580d Car

Fathead minnow (juvenile), Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

141 3,420d She

Fathead minnow (juvenile), Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

141 3,510d She

Fathead minnow (0.6 g),

Pimephales promelas

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 1,500d Phi

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

40 21.5 Spe

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

48 11.7 Spe

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

39 19.3 Spe

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

45 42.4 Spe

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

47 54.2 Spe

Fathead minnow (fry), Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

44 29.0 Spe
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow (<24 hr), Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

60 210 Rif

Fathead minnow (1-2 d), Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

60 180 Rif

Fathead minnow (<24 hr), Pimephales promelas

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

290

280-300

60 (pH=7-7.5) Sch

Fathead minnow (30 d), Pimephales promelas

F, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

44 13.2 Spe

Guppy, Poecilia reticulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,270 Pic

196

Guppy (3-4 wk), Poecilia reticulata

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

105 3,800 Can

Guppy (3-4 wk), Poecilia reticulata

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

209.2 11,100 Can

Striped bass (larva), Morone saxatilis S, U Cadmium

chloride

34.5 1 Hu

Striped bass (fingerling), Morone saxatilis S, U Cadmium

chloride

34.5 2 Hu

Striped bass (63 d), Morone saxatilis S, U Cadmium

chloride

40 4 Pal

Striped bass (63 d), Morone saxatilis S, U Cadmium

chloride

285 10 Pal

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 2,840 Pic

196
Table 1d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Acute Cadmium Hardness Slope (Continued)

Speciesa Methodb Chemical

Hardness 

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

LC50 or EC50

(Total μg/L)c Ref

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus S, U Cadmium

chloride

360 66,000 Pic

196

Green sunfish (juvenile), Lepomis cyanellus

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

85.5 11,520 Car

Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus F, M Cadmium

chloride

335 20,500 Jud

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus S, U Cadmium

chloride

20 1,940 Pic

196

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

18 2,300 Bis

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

18 2,300 Bis

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus F, M Cadmium

chloride

207 21,100 Eat

Bluegill (1.0 g), Lepomis macrochirus F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44.4 6,470 Phi

a Only those species listed in Table 1a that satisfied EPA Guideline requirements for inclusion were used to determine acu

In addition, less than or greater than values were not used, nor were daphnid tests initiated with >24 hr old neonates.

b S=static, R=renewal, F=flow-through, M=measured, U=unmeasured, T=total measured concentration, D=dissolved metal 

c Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.
Table 2a. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals

Species Testa Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3)

Chronic

Limits Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Limits

Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic Value

Adj. to TH=50

(Total μg/L)

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Oligochaete, Aeolosoma headleyi

LC - 65 - - 25.19 - 20.74 

Snail, Aplexa hypnorum

LC Cadmium

chloride

45.3 4.41-7.63 - 5.801 - 6.241 

Snail, Aplexa hypnorum

LC Cadmium

chloride

45.3 2.50-4.79 - 3.460 - 3.723 

Cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia

LC - 20 10-19 - 13.78 - 27.17 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

LC Cadmium

chloride

53 0.08-0.29 - 0.1523 - 0.1459 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

LC cadmium

chloride

103 0.16-0.28 - 0.2117 - 0.1239 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

LC Cadmium

chloride

209 0.21-0.91 - 0.4371 - 0.1515 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

LC Cadmium

chloride

150 5.0-10.0 - 7.07 - 3.133 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

LC Cadmium

chloride

130 <1.86-1.86 - <1.86 - <0.9163 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

LC - 65 - - 7.49 - 6.167 

Amphipod,Hyalella azteca

LC Cadmium

chloride

280 0.51-1.9 - 0.9844 - 0.2747 

Midge,Chironomus tentans

LC Cadmium

chloride

280 5.8-17.4 - 10.05 - 2.804 
Table 2a. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Testa Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3)

Chronic

Limits Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Limits

Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic Value

Total at TH=50

(Total μg/L)

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Coho salmon (Lake Supr.), Oncorhynchus kisutch

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 1.3-3.4 - 2.102 - 2.311 

Coho salmon (West Coast), Oncorhynchus kisutch

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 4.1-12.5 - 7.159 - 7.870 

Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchustshawytscha

ELS Cadmium

chloride

25 1.3-1.88 - 1.563 - 2.612 

Rainbow trout (270 d), Oncorhynchus mykiss

LC Cadmium

sulfate

250 3.39-5.48 - 4.310 - 1.308 

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

ELS Cadmium

chloride

23.5

(19-28)

90-270

(5

NC)

2.5-8.2

(9.6

NC)

--

155.9c

4.528

--

272.8d

7.922

Brown trout,Salmo trutta

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 3.8-11.7 - 6.668 - 7.330 

Brown trout, Salmo trutta

LC Cadmium

sulfate

250 9.34-29.1 - 16.49 - 5.004 

Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis

ELS Cadmium

chloride

37 1-3 - 1.732 - 2.165 

Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 1.1-3.8 - 2.045 - 2.248 

Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis

LC Cadmium

chloride

44 1.7-3.4 - 2.404 - 2.643 

Lake trout,Salvelinus namaycush

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 4.4-12.3 - 7.357 - 8.088 

Northern pike, Esox lucius

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 4.2-12.9 - 7.361 - 8.092 
Table 2a. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Animals (Continued)

Species Testa Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3)

Chronic

Limits Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Limits

Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic

Value Diss.

(μg/L)b

Chronic Value

Total at TH=50

(Total μg/L)

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

ELS Cadmium

nitrate

44 - - 10.0 - 10.99 

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

LC Cadmium

sulfate

201 37-57 - 45.92 - 16.38 

White sucker,Catostomuscommersoni

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 4.2-12.0 - 7.099 - 7.804 

Flagfish, Jordanella floridae

LC Cadmium

chloride

44 4.1-8.1 - 5.763 - 6.336 

Flagfish, Jordanella floridae

LC Cadmium

chloride

47.5

(44-51)

3.0-6.5 - 4.416 - 4.587 

Flagfish, Jordanella floridae

LC Cadmium

chloride

47.5

(44-51)

3.4-7.3 - 4.982 - 5.175 

Bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

LC Cadmium

sulfate

207 31-80 - 49.80 - 17.38 

Smallmouth bass,Micropterusdolomieui

ELS Cadmium

chloride

44 4.3-12.7 - 7.390 - 8.124 

Blue tilapia, Oreochromis aurea

LC Cadmium

nitrate

145 >52 - >52 - >23.63 

a ELS = early life stage, LC = life cycle or partial life cycle.b Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.c Each SMCV was calculated from the associated underlined number(s) in the preceding column.d Not used in calculations (see text).
Table 2b. Chronic Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Animals 

Species Testa Chemical

Salinity

(g/kg)

Chronic Limits

Total

(μg/L)b

Chronic Limits

Dissolved

 (μg/L) 

Chronic Value

Total

 (μg/L) 

Chronic Value

Dissolved

 (μg/L) 

S

C

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

LC Cadmium

chloride

15-23 6.4-10.6 - 8.237 - 

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

LC Cadmium

chloride

30 5.1-10 - 7.141 - 

Mysid, Americamysis bahia

LC Cadmium

chloride

30 <4-4 - <4 - 

Mysid,Mysidopsis bigelowi

LC Cadmium

chloride

- 5.1-10 - 7.141 - 

a ELS = early life stage, LC = life cycle or partial life cycle.b Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.c Each SMCV was calculated from the associated underlined number(s) in the preceding column. 
Table 2c. Results of Covariance Analysis of Freshwater Chronic Toxicity Versus Hardness

Species n Slope

R2 Value

95% Confidence

Limits 

Daphnia magna - All 4 1.5792 0.284 -6.0524, 9.2108 Daphnia magna(only Chapman et al. Manuscript)

3 0.7712 0.962 -1.1663, 2.7087 

Brown trout 2 0.5212 --- Cannot be calculateFathead minnow 2 1.0034 --- Cannot be calculateAll species 8 0.9685@ 0.779 -0.9716, 2.9087 All species (Chapman only) 7 0.7409*# 0.994 0.3359, 1.1459 * Slope is significantly different from 0 (p<0.05).@ Individual slopes not significant different (p=0.90). # Individual slopes not significant different (p=0.35).

Table 2d. List of Studies Used to Estimate Chronic Cadmium Hardness Slope

Speciesa Testb Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as CaCO3)

Chronic Limits

Total

(μg/L)c

Chronic V

Tota

(μg/L

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna LC Cadmium chloride 53 0.08-0.29 0.152Cladoceran, Daphnia magna LC Cadmium chloride 103 0.16-0.28 0.211Cladoceran, Daphnia magna LC Cadmium chloride 209 0.21-0.91 0.437Cladoceran, Daphnia magna LC Cadmium chloride 150 5.0-10.0 7.07 Brown trout, Salmo trutta ELS Cadmium chloride 44 3.8-11.7 6.66Brown trout, Salmo trutta LC Cadmium sulfate 250 9.34-29.1 16.4Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas LC Cadmium sulfate 201 37-57 45.9Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas ELS Cadmium nitrate 44 - 10.0 

a Only those species listed in Table 2a that satisfied EPA Guideline requirements for inclusion were used to determine chronic hardness sl than values were not used.b ELS = early life stage, LC = life cycle or partial life cycle.c Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.
Table 2e. Cadmium Acute-Chronic Ratios

Freshwater Species

Species Reference

Hardness

(mg/L as CaCO3)

Acute Value

(μg/L)

Chronic Value

(μg/L) 

Snail, Aplexa hypnorum Holcombe et al. 1984 45.3 93 5.801 

Snail, Aplexa hypnorum Holcombe et al. 1984 45.3 93 3.460 Cladoceran, Daphnia magna Chapman et al. Manuscript 51 9.9 0.1523 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna Chapman et al. Manuscript 104 33 0.2117 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna Chapman et al. Manuscript 209 49 0.4371 

Chinook salmon,Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chapman 1975, 1982 25 1.41 1.563 

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

Pickering and Gast 1972 201 5,995a 45.92 

Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

Spehar and Fiandt 1986 44 13.2 10.0 

Flagfish, Jordanella floridae Spehar 1976a 44 2,500 5.763 Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Eaton 1974 207 21,100 49.80 

Saltwater Species

Mysid, Americamysis bahia Nimmo et al. 1977a - 15.5 8.237 Mysid, Americamysis bahia Gentile et al. 1982 - 110 7.141 Mysid, Mysidopsis bigelowi Gentile et al. 1982 - 110 7.141 a Geometric mean of five values in Table 1 from Pickering and Gast (1972).
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

55 96,880 Midge,

Chironomus riparius

96,880 -

54 14,067 Planarian,

Dendrocoelum lacteum

14,067 -

53 >11,683 Crayfish,

Orconectes virilis

11,859 -

Crayfish,Orconectes immunis

>11,509 -

52 10,663 Tilapia,

Oreochromis mossambica

10,663 -

51 6,499 Mosquitofish,

Gambusia affinis

6,499 -

50 6,169 Tubificid worm,

Rhyacodrilus montana

6,169 -

49 5,439 Threespine stickleback,

Gasterosteus aculeatus

5,439 -

48 5,386 Tubificid worm,

Stylodrilus heringianus

5,386 -

47 5,055 Channel catfish,

Ictalurus punctatus

5,055 -

46 4,238 Common carp,

Cyprinus carpio

4,238 -
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Mea

Acute-Chron

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

45 4,228 Green sunfish,

Lepomis cyanellus

2,965 -

Bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

6,028 423.7

44 3,886 Tubificid worm,

Spirosperma ferox

3,427 -

Tubificid worm,Spirosperma nikolskyi

4,406 -

43 3,837 Red shiner,

Notropis lutrenis

3,837 -

42 3,721 Tubificid worm,

Varichaeta pacifica

3,721 -

41 3,136 White sucker,

Catostomus commersoni

3,136 -

40 3,133 Tubificid worm,

Quistradilus multisetosus

3,133 -

39 2,847 Flagfish,

Jordanella floridae

2,847 433.8

38 2,462 Guppy,

Poecilia reticulata

2,462 -

37 2,350 Tubificid worm,

Branchiura sowerbyi

2,350 -

36 2,278 Mayfly,

Ephemerella grandis

2,278 -
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Mea

Acute-Chron

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

35 1,748 Crayfish,

Procambarus clarkii

1,748 -

34 1,700 Amphipod,

Crangonyx pseudogracilis

1,700 -

33 1,529 African clawed frog,

Xenopus laevis

1,529 -

32 1,361 Tubificid worm,

Tubifex tubifex

1,361 -

31 844.0 Goldfish,

Carassius auratus

844.0 -

30 775.0 Tubificid worm,

Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

775.0 -

29 521.4 Salamander,

Ambystoma gracile

521.4 -

28 472.1 Isopod,

Asellus bicrenata

472.1 -

27 259.7 Bryozoan,

Plumatella emarginata

259.7 -

26 247.2 Cladoceran,

Alona affinis

247.2 -

25 223.2 Copepod,

Cyclops varicans

223.2 -

24 192.5 Leech,

Glossiponia complanta

192.5 -
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Mea

Acute-Chron

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

23 166.8 Bryozoan,

Pectinatella magnifica

166.8 -

22 130.6 Worm,

Lumbriculus variegatus

130.6 -

21 103.9 Snail,

Aplexa hypnorum

103.9 20.76c

20 100.2 Snail,

Physa gyrina

100.2 -

19 78.69 Amphipod,

Gammarus pseudolimnaeus

78.69 -

18 48.44 Isopod,

Lirceus alabamae

48.44 -

17 43.09 Cladoceran,

Moina macrocopa

43.09 -

16 42.92 Mussel,

Utterbackia imbecilis

42.92 -

15 38.72 Bonytail,

Gila elegans

38.72 -

14 36.62 Razorback sucker,

Xyrauchen texanus

36.62 -

13 35.90 Cladoceran,

Ceriodaphnia dubia

31.37 -

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia reticulata

41.07 -
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Mea

Acute-Chron

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

12 35.74 Bryozoan,

Lophopodella carteri

35.74 -

11 35.18 Mussel,

Vilosa vibex

35.18 -

10 33.80 Mussel,

Actinonaia pectorosa

33.80 -

9 33.76 Mussel,

Lampsilis straminea claibornensis

47.68 -

Mussel,Lampsilis teres

23.90 -

8 30.21 Cladoceran,

Simocephalus serrulatus

30.21 -

7 29.21 Fathead minnow,

Pimephales promelas

29.21 13.13c

6 24.93 Cladoceran,

Daphnia magna

13.41 104.3d

Cladoceran,Daphnia pulex

46.36 -

5 22.54 Colorado squawfish,

Ptychocheilus lucius

22.54 -

 Northern pike minnow

Ptychocheilus oregonensis

2,221e -
Table 3a. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Mea

Acute-Chron

 Ratio 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

4 3.836 Coho salmon,

Oncorhynchus kisutch

6.221 -

Chinook salmon,Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

4.305 0.9021

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

2.108 -

3 2.925 Striped bass,

Morone saxatilis

2.925 -

2 <1.963 Brook trout,

Salvelinus fontinalis

<1.791 -

Bull trout,Salvelinus confluentus

2.152 -

1 1.613 Brown trout,

Salmo trutta

1.613 -

a Ranked from most resistant to most sensitive based on Genus Mean Acute Value.b Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values and Freshwater Species Mean Acute Values are at a hardness of 50 mg/L.c Geometric mean of two values in Table 2e.d Geometric mean of three values in Table 2e.e Species values are too divergent to use the geometric mean for the genus value, therefore, the most sensitive value used.
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

54 135,000 Oligochaete worm,

Monopylephorus cuticulatus

135,000 -

53 50,000 Sheepshead minnow,

Cyprinodon variegatus

50,000 -

52 27,992 Amphipod,

Eohaustoris estuarius

27,992 -

51 24,000 Oligochaete worm,

Tubificoides gabriellae

24,000 -

50 21,238 Fiddler crab,

Uca pugilator

21,238 -

49 19,550 Mummichog,

Fundulus heteroclitus

18,200 -

Striped killifish,Fundulus majalis

21,000 -

48 19,170 Mud snail,

Nassarius obsoletus

19,170 -

47 14,297 Winter flounder,

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

14,297 -

46 12,836 Polychaete worm,

Neanthes arenaceodentata

12,836 -

45 11,000 Shiner perch,

Cymatogaster aggregata

11,000 -
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

44 >10,200 Squid,

Loligo opalescens

>10,200 -

43 10,000 Oligochaete worm,

Limnodriloides verrucosus

10,000 -

42 7,400 Sand dollar,

Dendraster excentricus

7,400 -

41 7,120 Isopod,

Limnoria tripunctata

7,120 -

40 7,079 Striped mullet,

Mugil cephalus

7,079 -

39 6,895 Polychaete worm,

Nereis grubei

4,700 -

 Sand worm,

Nereis virens

10,114 -

38 6,700 Amphipod,

Diporeia spp.

6,700 -

37 6,600 Oyster drill,

Urosalpinx cinerea

6,600 -

36 4,100 Green crab,

Carcinus maenas

4,100 -

35 3,500 Amphipod,

Marinogammarus obtusatus

3,500 -

34 2,900 Amphipod,

Ampelisca abdita

2,900 -
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

33 2,600 Polychaete worm,

Pectinaria californiensis

2,600 -

32 2,594 Blue crab,

Callinectes sapidus

2,594 -

31 2,413 Starfish,

Asterias forbesi

2,413 -

30 1,708 Copepod,

Pseudodiaptomus coronatus

1,708 -

29 1,672 Soft-shell clam,

Mya arenaria

1,672 -

28 1,500 Coho salmon,

Oncorhynchus kisutch

1,500 -

27 1,480 Bay scallop,

Argopecten irradians

1,480 -

26 1,228 Grass shrimp,

Palaemonetes pugio

1,983 -

 Grass shrimp,

Palaemonetes vulgaris

760 -

25 1,170 Amphipod,

Grandidierella japonica

1,170 -

24 1,073 Blue mussel,

Mytilus edulis

1,073 -
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

23 948.7 Green sea urchin,

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

1,800 -

Purple sea urchin,Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

500 -

22 930.6 Pacific oyster,

Crassostrea gigas

227.9 -

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

3,800 -

21 929.3 Amphipod,

Corophium insidiosum

929.3 -

20 800 Rivulus,

Rivulus marmoratus

800 -

19 794.5 Copepod,

Nitocra spinipes

794.5 -

18 779.8 Atlantic silverside,

Menidia menidia

779.8 -

17 716.2 Amphipod,

Elasmopus bampo

716.2 -

16 645.0 Hermit crab,

Pagurus longicarpus

645.0 -

15 630.0 Amphipod,

Chelura terebrans

630.0 -

14 590.5 Amphipod,

Leptocheirus plumulosus

590.5 -
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

13 410.0 Isopod,

Jaeropsis sp.

410.0 -

12 320.0 Sand shrimp,

Crangon septemspinosa

320.0 -

11 310.5 Pink shrimp,

Penaeus duorarum

310.5 -

10 235.7 Rock crab,

Cancer irroratus

250.0 -

 Dungeness crab,

Cancer magister

222.3 -

9 224 Copepod,

Amphiascus tenuiremis

224 -

8 >200 Cabezon,

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

>200 -

7 200 Polychaete worm,

Capitella capitata

200 -

6 147.7 Copepod,

Eurytemora affinis

147.7 -

5 130.7 Copepod,

Acartia clausi

144 -

Copepod,Acartia tonsa

118.7 -

4 110 Mysid,

Mysidopsis bigelowi

110 15.40
Table 3b. Ranked Saltwater Genus Mean Acute Values with Species Mean Acute-Chronic Ratios (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b Species

Species Mean 

Acute Value 

(Total μg/L)b

Species Me

Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

SALTWATER SPECIES

3 78 American lobster,

Homarus americanus

78 -

2 75.0 Striped bass,

Morone saxatilis

75.0 -

1 41.29 Mysid,

Americamysis bahia

41.29 5.384c

a Ranked from most resistant to most sensitive based on Genus Mean Acute Value.b Freshwater Genus Mean Acute Values and Freshwater Species Mean Acute Values are at a hardness of 50 mg/L.c Geometric mean of two values in Table 2e.d Geometric mean of three values in Table 2e.e Species values are too divergent to use the geometric mean for the genus value, therefore, the most sensitive value used.
Table 3c. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Chronic Values

Ranka

Genus Mean

 Chronic Value 

 (μg/L) Species

Species Mean 

Chronic Value 

 (μg/L)b

Species Me

 Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

16 27.17 Cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia 27.17 -

15 >23.63 Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aurea >23.63 -

14 20.74 Oligochaete, Aeolosoma headleyi 20.74 -13 17.38 Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus 17.38c 423.7

12 16.38 Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas 16.38c 13.13c

11 8.124 Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui 8.124 -10 8.092 Northern pike, Esox lucius 8.092 -

9 7.804 White sucker, Catostomus commersoni 7.804 -8 6.296 Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar 7.922 -

Brown trout, Salmo trutta 5.004c -

7 5.318 Flagfish, Jordanella floridae 5.318d 433.8

6 4.820 Snail, Aplexa hypnorum 4.820c 20.76c

5 4.624 Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis 2.643d -

Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush 8.088 -

4 2.804 Midge, Chironomus tentans 2.804 -

3 2.443 Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch 4.265c -

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss 1.308 -Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 2.612 0.9021
Table 3c. Ranked Freshwater Genus Mean Chronic Values (Continued)

Ranka

Genus Mean

 Chronic Value 

 (μg/L) Species

Species Mean 

Chronic Value 

 (μg/L)b

Species Me

 Acute-Chro

 Ratio 

2 <0.3794f Cladoceran, Daphnia magna <0.3794e 104.3d

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex 6.167f -

1 0.2747 Amphipod, Hyalella azteca 0.2747 -

a Ranked from most resistant to most sensitive based on Genus Mean Chronic Value.b Genus Mean Chronic Values and Species Mean Chronic Values are at a hardness of 50 mg/L.c Geometric mean of two values.d Geometric mean of three values.e Geometric mean of five values.f Species values are too divergent to use the geometric mean for the genus value, therefore, the most sensitive value used.
Table 3d. Freshwater and Saltwater Cadmium Criteria Values

Fresh waterCMC: Final Acute Value = 2.763 μg/L (calculated at a hardness of 50 mg/L from Genus Mean Acute Values)  Final Acute Value = 2.108 μg/L (lowered to protect rainbow trout at a hardness of 50 mg/L; see text) Criterion Maximum Concentration = (2.108 μg/L) /2 = 1.054 μg/L Total Cadmium (at a hardness of 50 mg/L) Pooled Slope = 1.0166 (see Table 1) ln (Criterion Maximum Intercept) = ln(1.054) - [slope x ln(50)] = 0.0526 - (1.0166 x 3.912) = -3.924  Criterion Maximum Concentration for Total Cadmium (at a hardness of 50 mg/L) = e(1.0166[ln(hardness)]-3.924) Criterion Maximum Concentration for Dissolved Cadmium (at 50 mg/L hardness) = 0.973 [e(1.0166[ln(hardness)]-3.924)]

CCC:  Total Cadmium Freshwater Final Chronic Value = 0.1618 μg/L (see text) Slope = 0.7409 (see text) 1n (Final Chronic intercept) = ln (0.1618) - [slope x ln(50)] = -1.821 - (0.7409 x 3.912) = -4.719 Total Cadmium Freshwater Final Chronic Value (at a hardness of 50 mg/L) = e(0.7409 [ln(hardness)]-4.719)

 Dissolved Cadmium Freshwater Final Chronic Value (at 50 mg/L hardness) = 0.938 [e(0.7409 [ln(hardness)]-4.719)]Salt waterCMC: Total Cadmium Final Acute Value = 80.55 μg/L Total Cadmium Criterion Maximum Concentration = (80.55 μg/L)/2 = 40.28 μg/L Dissolved Cadmium Criterion Maximum Concentration = 0.994 (40.28 μg/L) = 40 μg/L Final Acute-Chronic Ratio = 9.106 (see text)CCC: Total Cadmium Final Chronic Value = (80.55 μg/L)/9.106 = 8.846 μg/L  Dissolved Cadmium Final Chronic Value = 0.994 (8.846 μg/L) = 8.8 μg/L
Table 3d. Freshwater and Saltwater Cadmium Criteria Values (Continued)

Calculated Freshwater FAV based on 4 lowest values: Total Number of GMAVs in Data Set = 55

Rank GMAV lnGMAV (lnGMAV)2 P=R/(n+1) SQRT(P)

4 3.836 1.345 1.808 0.0714 0.26733 2.925 1.073 1.152 0.0536 0.23152 1.963 0.6745 0.4549 0.0357 0.18901 1.613 0.4781 0.2286 0.0179 0.1336

Sum: 3.571 3.644 0.1786 0.8213 

S = 6.781

L = -0.4997

A = 1.017

Calculated FAV = 2.764

Calculated Saltwater FAV based on 4 lowest values: Total Number of GMAVs in Data Set = 54

Rank GMAV lnGMAV (lnGMAV)2 P=R/(n+1) SQRT(P)

4 110 4.700 22.095 0.0727 0.26973 78 4.357 18.981 0.0545 0.23352 75.0 4.317 18.641 0.0364 0.19071 41.29 3.721 13.843 0.0182 0.1348

Sum: 17.095 73.559 0.1818 0.8288 

S = 7.012

L = 2.821

A = 4.389

Calculated FAV = 80.55
Table 3d. Freshwater and Saltwater Cadmium Criteria Values (Continued)

Calculated Freshwater FCV based on 4 lowest values: Total Number of GMAVs in Data Set = 16

Rank GMAV lnGMAV (lnGMAV)2 P=R/(n+1) SQRT(P)

4 2.804 1.031 1.063 0.2353 0.48513 2.443 0.8932 0.7979 0.1765 0.42012 0.3794 -0.9692 0.9393 0.1176 0.34301 0.2747 -1.292 1.669 0.0588 0.2425

Sum: -0.3370 4.470 0.5882 1.491 

S = 11.65

L = -4.428

A = -1.822

Calculated FCV = 0.1618
Table 4a. Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Plants

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Resultb

(Total μg/L) Refe

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Diatom,Asterionella formosa

- - - - Factor of 10 growth

rate decrease

2 Conw

Diatom,Scenedesmus quadracauda

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Reduction in cell count 6.1 Klas

Diatom,Nitzschia costerium

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50 480 Rach

Diatom,Navicula incerta

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50 310 Rach

Green alga,Scenedesmus obliquus

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 39% reduction in

growth

2,500 Devi 

1982

Alga,Euglena gracilis

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Morphological

abnormalities

5,000 Naka

Alga,Euglena gracilis anabaena

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - Cell division inhibition 20,000 Naka

Green alga,Ankistrodesmus falcatus

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 58% reduction in

growth

2,500 Devi 

1982

Blue alga,Microcystis aeruginosa

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - incipient inhibition 70 Bring

and K

Green alga.Scenedesmus quadricauda

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - incipient inhibition 310 Bring

1978

Green alga,Chlorella saccharophila

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50 105 Rach

Alga,Chlorococcum sp.

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 42% reduction in

growth

2,500 Devi 

1982
Table 4a. Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Plants (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Resultb

(Total μg/L) Refe

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Green alga,Chlorella pyrenoidosa

- - - - Reduction in growth 250 Hart 

Green alga,Chlorella vulgaris

- - - - Reduction in growth 50 Hutc

Alga, Chara vulgaris

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

- 7 days Lethal dose 56.2 Heum

Alga,Chara vulgaris

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

- 14 days EC50 growth 9.5 Heum

Green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardi

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

24 4 days

7 days

10 days

EC50 (cell density)EC50 (cell density)EC50 (cell density)

203130

99

Scha

Green alga,Clorella vulgaris

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 50% reduction in

growth

60 Rosk

Green alga,Clorella vulgaris

- Cadmium

chloride

50 - 96-hr EC50 (growth

inhibition)

3,700 Cant

Green alga,Selenastrum capricornutum

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Reduction in growth 50 Bartl

Green alga,Selenastrum capricornutum

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - Reduction in growth 255 Sloo

Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 4 days IC 50 growth 10,500 Boze

Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 4 days EC50 growth 23.2 Thel
Table 4a. Toxicity of Cadmium to Freshwater Plants (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Resultb

(Total μg/L) Refe

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Green alga,Selenastrum capricornutum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

171 4 days EC50 growth 130 Vers

Alga,Anabaena flos-aquae

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50 120 Rach

Algae(mixed spp.)

- Cadmium

chloride

11.1 - Significant reduction in

population

5 Gies

Fern,Salvina natans

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - Reduction in number of

fronds

10 Hutc

Eurasian watermilfoil,Myriophyllum spicatum

- - - - 32-day EC50 (root

weight)

7,400 Stanl

Duckweed, Lemna gibba

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

- 7 days EC50 growth 800 Devi 

Duckweed,Lemna minor

S, U - - 4 days EC50 growth 200 Wan

Duckweed, Lemna minor

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

39 4 days Reduced chlorophyll 54 Tara

1990

Duckweed,Lemna valdiviana

- Cadmium

nitrate

- - Reduction in number of

fronds

10 Hutc

Duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

- 28 days LOEC growth 7.63 Sajw

a S=static: R=renewal; F=flow through; U=unmeasured; M=measured; T=total metal conc. measured; D=dissolved metal conc. measuredb Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.
Table 4b. Toxicity of Cadmium to Saltwater Plants 

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

(g/kg) Duration Effect

Resultb

(Total μg/L) Refe

SALTWATER SPECIES

Kelp, Laminana saccharina

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 8-day EC50 

(growth rate)

860 Mark

Diatom,Asterionella japonica

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 72-hr EC50 

(growth rate)

224.8 Fishe

Diatom,Ditylum brightwellii

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 5-day EC50 

(growth)

60 Cant

Diatom,Phaeodactylum tricornutum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

35 4 days EC50 growth 22,390 Torre

Diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50

(growth rate)

160 Gent

Diatom,Skeletonema costatum

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 96-hr EC50 

(growth rate)

175 Gent

Red alga,Champia parvula

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Reduced

tetrasporophyte growth

24.9 Steel

Red alga,Champia parvula

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Reduced tetrasporangia

production

>189 Steel

Red alga,Champia parvula

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Reduced female growth 22.8 Steel

Red alga,Champia parvula

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Stopped sexual

reproduction

22.8 Steel

Red alga,Champia parvula

R, U Cadmium

chloride

28-30 14 days NOEC sexual

reproduction 

77 Thur

a S=static: R=renewal; F=flow through; U=unmeasured; M=measured; T= total metal conc. measured; D=dissolved metal conc. measureb Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Aufwuchs (attachedmicroscopic plants andanimals

- Cadmium chloride - - 365 720 G

Aufwuchs (attachedmicroscopic plants andanimals

- Cadmium chloride - - 365 580 G

Duckweed,Lemna valdiviana

Whole plant Cadmium nitrate - - 21 603 H

Fern,Salvinia natans

Whole plant Cadmium nitrate - - 21 960 H

Snail,Physa integra

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 28 1,750 S

Snail, Viviparus georgianus

Soft tissue 

(1 yr old)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

71b

74b

109b

T

Soft tissue 

(2 yrs old)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

28b

42b60b

Soft tissue 

(3 yrs old)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

27b

42b26b

Snail,Viviparus georgianus

Soft tissue 

(1 yr old)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

6,910b

2,238b

T

Soft tissue 

(2 yrs old)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

1,758b

758b

Soft tissue 

(3 yrs old)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

1,258b

617b
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mussel, Elliptio complanata

Soft tissue 

(0-74 mm length)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

15b

16b28b

T

Soft tissue 

(74-86 mm length)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

16b

16b14b

Soft tissue 

(86-100 mm

length)

Cadmium chloride - 100(10

NC)

100(15

NC)

100(25

NC)

202020

8b7b8b

Mussel, Elliptio complanata

Soft tissue 

(0-74 mm length)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

1,256b

918b

T

Soft tissue 

(74-86 mm)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

945b

613b

Soft tissue 

(86-100 mm)

Cadmium chloride - 10

50

6060

574b

254b

Asiatic clam,Corbicula fluminea

Whole body Cadmium sulfate - - 28 3,770 G

Asiatic clam,Corbicula fluminea

Whole body Cadmium sulfate - - 28 1,752 G

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

Whole body Cadmium sulfate - - 2-4 320 P

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

Whole body Cadmium sulfate - - 7 484b W

Crayfish,Orconectes propinquus

Whole body - - - 8 184 G
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mayfly,Ephemeroptera sp.

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 1,630 G

Mayfly,Ephemeroptera sp.

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 3,520 G

Dragonfly,Pantala hymenea

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 736 G

Dragonfly,Pantala hymenea

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 680 G

Damselfly,Ischnura sp.

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 1,300 G

Damselfly,Ischnura sp.

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 928 G

Stonefly,Pteronarcys dorsata

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 28 373 S

Beetle,Dytiscidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 164 G

Beetle,Dytiscidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 260 G

Caddisfly,Hydropsyche betteni

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 28 4,190 S

Caddisfly,Hydropsyche sp.

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 2-8 228.2b D

Biting midge,Ceratopogonidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 936 G
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Biting midge,Ceratopogonidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 662 G

Midge,Chironomidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 2,200 G

Midge,Chironomidae

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 365 1,830 G

Midge, Chironomus riparius

Whole body - - 10,000 28 1,370b T

Lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Whole body Cadmium chloride 82.5 2.07 72 42 H

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Whole body - - - 140 540 K

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 70 33 K

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Whole body Cadmium chloride 82.5 3.39 72 55 H

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Muscle Cadmium sulfate 250 1.8

3.45.51.83.45.5

231231231455455455

333294509

89

182127

B
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

Whole body (egg) Cadmium chloride - 0.87 (pH=6.8)

1.74 (pH=6.8)1.01 (pH=4.5)2.09 (pH=4.5)

91919191

229176

47

P

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 490 3 B

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 84 151 B

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 93 22 S

Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis

Whole body

(estimated steady

state)

Cadmium chloride - - 180 2,213 G

Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis

Whole body

(estimated steady

state)

Cadmium chloride - - 180 1,891 G

Guppy,Poecilia reticulata

Whole body - - - 32 280 C
Table 5a. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Tissue Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

 CaCO3) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus

Whole body Cadmium chloride 134 0.8

1.82.22.83.64.45.26.27.78.4

13.216.119.732.3

2828282828282828282828282828

113

78866867666950486255373441

C

Blue tilapia, Tilapia aurea

Muscle Cadmium nitrate 145 6.8

142852

112112112112

17.616.425.717.7

P

African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

Whole body - - - 100 130 C

Mallard duck,Anas platyrhynchos

Kidney tubule

degeneration,

Testis weight

reduction,

inhibited

spermatozoa

production

- - 200 mg/kgc

(in food)

90 - W

1
Table 5b. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Saltwater Organisms 

Species Tissue Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

SALTWATER SPECIES

a Results are based on cadmium, not the chemical.b Bioconcentration factor was converted from dry weight to wet weight basis.c More recent information may be available for this species.Polychaete worm,Ophryotrocha diadema

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 64 3,160 K

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

Soft parts Cadmium chloride - - 28 113 G

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

Soft parts Cadmium chloride - - 35 306 P

Bay scallop,Argopecten irradians

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 42 2,040 P

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Soft parts Cadmium chloride - - 280 2,150 Z

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Soft parts Cadmium chloride - - 280 1,830 Z

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

Soft parts Cadmium nitrate - - 98 1,220 S

Soft-shell clam,Mya arenaria

Soft parts Cadmium nitrate - - 70 160 P

Pink shrimp,Penaeus duorarum

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 30 57 N

Grass shrimp,Paleomonetes pugio

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 42 22 P
Grass shrimp,

Paleomonetes pugio

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 28 203 N

Grass shrimp,Paleomonetes vulgaris

Whole body Cadmium chloride - - 28 307 N

Table 5b. Bioaccumulation of Cadmium by Saltwater Organisms (Continued)Species Tissue Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) 

Concentration

in Water

 (μg/L)a 

Duration

(days)

BCF

 or

 BAF R

SALTWATER SPECIES

Green crab,Carcinus maenas

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 68 5 W

Green crab,Carcinus maenas

Muscle Cadmium chloride - - 40 7 J

a Results are based on cadmium, not the chemical.b Bioconcentration factor was converted from dry weight to wet weight basis.c More recent information may be available for this species.
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted

to TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

to 

(D

 

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mixed natural fungi andbacterial colonies on leaflitter

- Cadmium

chloride

10.7 28 wk Inhibition of leaf

decomposition

5 15.67 

Plankton - - - 2 wk Reduced

crustacean,

zooplankton, and

rotifers

1-3 - 

Mixed algal species S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 10 days Growth inhibition 50 - 

Phytoplanktoncommunity

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 150 days NOEC biomas and

photosynthesis

0.185 - 

Duckweed, Lemna minor

R, U - - 10 days EC50 (frond

production)

191 - 

Duckweed,Spirodela punctata

S, M, T - - 30 days Reduced growth

rate

25 - 

Water fern, Salvinia minima

S, M, T - - 30 days Reduced growth

rate

10 - 

Cyanophyceae,Microcystis aeroginosa

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 24 hr EC50 growth 0.56 - 

Cyanobacterium,Anacystis nidulans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 14 days No growth 50,000 - 

Green alga,Selenastrumcapricornutum

R, U Cadmium

chloride

24.2 72 hr EC50 

(cell counts)

20.6 43.08 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Green alga,Selenastrumcapricornutum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

24.2 72 hr EC50 

(cell counts)

42.7 89.29 

Green alga,Chlamydomonasreinhardi

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 72 hr EC50 (growth) 789 - 

Green alga,Scenedesmus dimorphus

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

11.3 48 hr LC50 (density) 63 285.7 

Green alga,Scenedesmusquadricauda

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 20 days LC50 9 - 

Green alga,Selenastrumcapricornutum

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

- 120 hr LOEC growth 30 - 

Green alga,Selenastrumcapricornutum

S, U -

-

--

72 hr EC50 

(cell number)

EC50

(chlorophyll)

164

97

--

Green alga,Scenedesmusquadricauda

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 24 hr EC50 growth 1.9 - 

Green alga,Stichococcus bacillaris

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr Reduced growth 5,000 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Green alga,Chlorella vulgaris

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 72 hr Reduced progeny

formation

100 - 

Green alga,Chlorella vulgaris

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

- 72 hr EC50 growth 50,000 - 

Green alga,Scenedesmusquadricauda

- Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr Incipient inhibition

(river water)

100 - 

Bacteria, Escherichia coli

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Incipient inhibition 150 - 

Bacteria, Salmonella typhimurium

- Cadmium

chloride

50 8 hr EC50 (growth

inhibition)

10,400 10,400 

Bacteria, Pseudomonas putida

- Cadmium

chloride

- 16 hr Incipient inhibition 80 - 

Bacteria, (6 species)

- Cadmium

chloride

- 18 hr Reduced growth 5,000

100,000

- 

Protozoan community S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

70 2 days

28 days

EC50 (number of

species)

EC20

(colonization)

4,600

1

3,267

-
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Protozoan community S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 240 hr Reduced biomas 1 - 

Protozoan, Entosiphon sulcatum

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 72 hr Incipient inhibition 11 - 

Protozoan, Microregmaheterostoma

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 hr Incipient inhibition 100 - 

Protozoan, Chilomonasparamecium

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr Incipient inhibition 160 - 

Protozoan, Uronema parduezi

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 20 hr Incipient inhibition 26 - 

Protozoan, Spirostomum ambiguum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

28

250

24 hr24 hr

LC50LC50

78.1

5,270

140.81,026

Protozoan, Spirostomum ambiguum

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 168 - 

Ciliate, Tetrahymena pyriformis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 72 hr Growth inhibition 3,372 - 

Ciliate,Tetrahymena pyriformis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr EC50 growth 1,045 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Ciliate,Tetrahymena pyriformis

S, U Cadmium

acetate

- 30 min Complete mortality 56,205 - 

Ciliate, Colpidium campylum

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

- 24 hr EC50 growth 75 - 

Ciliate,Tetrahymena pyriformis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 9 hr IC50 growth 3,000 - 

Ciliate,Spirostomum teres

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 24 hr LC50 1,950 - 

Hydra, Hydra oligactis

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 583 - 

Hydra, Hydra littoralis

- Cadmium

chloride

70 12 days Reduced growth 20 15.59 

Planarian,Dendrocoelum lacteum

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

122.8 48 hr LC50 46,000 18,452 

Planarian, Dugesia lugubris

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 >20,000 - 

Mixed macroinvertebrates

- Cadmium

chloride

11.1 52 wk Reduced taxa 5 15.25 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

80-100 72 hr Chronic value

(asexual

reproduction)

Chronic Value

(sexual

reproduction)

2020

12.9412.94

Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

80-100 48 hr EC50

Chronic value

7060

38.5138.82

Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

80-100 24 hr LC50 1,300 715.2 

Rotifer, Brachionus rubens

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80-100 24 hr LC50

NOEC (survival)

810280

445.6154.1

Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

170 35 min NOEC (ingestion

rate)

250 72.05 

Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

80-100 48 hr EC50 10 5.502 

Mixed zooplanktoncommunity

F, M, T - - 14 days 60% reduced

biomass

1 - 

Tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex

- Cadmium

chloride

224 48 hr LC50 320,000 69,672 

Tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex

R, U Cadmium

chloride

245 96 hr LC50 47,530 9,447 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Worm, Lumbriculus variegatus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44-47 10 days LC50 158 169.4 

Worm, Pristina sp.

- Cadmium

chloride

11.1 52 wk Population

reduction

5 15.25 

Worm, Pristina leidyi

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

95 48 hr LC50 215 112.0 

Nematode,Caenorhabditis elegans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50

(fed)

61 - 

Leech (cocoon),Nephelopsis obscura

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 832.6 - 

Snail,Amnicola limosa

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

15.3 96 hr LC50 6,350

(pH=3.5)

3,800

(pH=4.0)

2,710

(pH=4.5)

21,16412,665

9,032

Snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr LC50 583 - 

Snail,Physa integra

- Cadmium

chloride

44-58 28 days LC50 10.4 10.25 

Snail,Vivpara bengalensis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

140-190 96 hr LC50 1,550 460.5 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mussel, Utterbackia imbecilis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

39

80-100

48 hr48 hr

LC50LC50

57

137

73.3875.37

Zebra mussel,Dreissena polymorpha

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

150 48 hr EC50 388 127.0 

Zebra mussel,Dreissena polymorpha

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

268 10 wk

11 wk

LOEC filtration

rate

EC50

9

130

2.59437.47

Bivalve, Pisidium casertanum

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

15.3 96 hr LC50 1,370

(pH=3.5)

 480

(pH=4.0)

 700

(pH=4.5)

4,5661,6002,333

Bivalve, Pisidium compressum

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

15.3 96 hr LC50 2,080

(pH=3.5)

 700

(pH=4.0)

 360

(pH=4.5)

6,9322,3331,200

Cladoceran (<24 hr)Ceriodaphnia dubia

R,M,T Cadmium

nitrate

100 48 hr LC50 27.3

(High TOC)

13.49 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

169 7 days Chronic value

reproduction

<14 <5.679 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80-100 1 hr EC50 feeding

inhibition

54 29.71 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80-100 1 hr EC50 feeding

inhibition

76.2 41.92 

Cladoceran (<48 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

280-300 48 hr LC50 (fed) 560 93.78 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80 48 hr LC50 49.5 30.70 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

chloride

172 48 hr LC50 221 62.94 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, M, D Cadmium

sulfate

160-180 120 min Reduced mobility 2,500 720.5 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia dubia

R, U Cadmium

chloride

80-100 7 days Chronic value 1.4 0.9057 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Ceriodaphnia dubia

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

80-100 48 hr LC50 78.2

(fed)

43.02 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia dubia

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

90 10 days NOEC reproduction 0.5 0.3235 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia reticulata

S, U - 45 48 hr LC50 66

(fed

bacterial

suspension)

73.46 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia reticulata

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 48 hr LC50 129

(High TOC)

95.80 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<6 hr),Ceriodaphnia reticulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

200

(well

water)

48 hr LC50 79.4 19.40 

Cladoceran,Ceriodaphnia reticulata

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 1,900 2,539 

Cladoceran, Daphnia carinata

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 280 374.1 

Cladoceran, Daphnia galeatamendotae

- Cadmium

chloride

- 22 wk Reduced biomass 4.0 - 

Cladoceran, Daphnia galeatamendotae

- Cadmium

chloride

- 15 days Reduced rate of

increase

5.0 - 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr EC50 (river water) 100 - 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

chloride

45 21 days Reproductive

impairment

0.17 0.184 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

chloride

163 72 hr LC50 15.4

(14-17)

4.632 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 24 hr LC50 600 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (3-5 days), Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

sulfate

- 72 hr LC50 (10 C)

 (15 C) (25 C) (30 C)

224224

12

0.1

----

Cladoceran (adult),Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

sulfate

- 72 hr LC50 (10 C)

 (15 C) (25 C) (30 C)

479187

10.2

2.4

----

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

nitrate

200 24 hr EC50 160 39.09 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

chloride

130 96 hr EC50 5 1.893 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

- Cadmium

chloride

200 20 days LC50 670 239.9 

Cladoceran,Daphnia magna

S, U - 45 48 hr LC50 118

(fed

bacterial

suspension)

131.3 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 48 hr LC50 166

(High TOC)

123.3 

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

160-180 48 hr LC50 140 40.35 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

200

(well

water)

48 hr LC50 49.0 11.97 

Cladoceran (<4 hr), Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

3841717476

48 hr LC50 164

99

101120

65

216.8121.170.7180.5642.47

Cladoceran (<4 hr), Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

3874

48 hr LC50 16

146

21.1598.01

Cladoceran (1 d), Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

38717476

48 hr LC50 307

135200

45

405.894.52134.329.40

Cladoceran (2 d), Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

38717476

48 hr LC50 131

183821

173.212.6025.5113.72

Cladoceran (5 d), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

34 48 hr LC50 24 35.52 

Cladoceran (5 d), Daphnia magna

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

225 21 days LOEC reproduction 2.3 0.755 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr LC50 48

(fed)

- 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (14 days), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

160-180 48 hr LC50 80 23.06 

Cladoceran (egg), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

150 46 hr Profound effect on

egg development

>1,000 >327.3 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

240 48 hr LC50 1,880 381.6 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

chloride

250 48 hr

(fed)

LC50 (small

neonates)

LC50 (large

neonates)

98

294

19.0857.25

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

160-180 48 hr LC50 (20 C)

(fed)

LC50 (26 C)

(fed)

38

9

10.952.594

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia magna

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 48 hr LC50 37.9 194.6 

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

S, U Cadmium

acetate

- 24 hr EC50 980 - 

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia magna

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 24 hr

24 days

EC50

NOEC reproduction

1,900

0.6

--

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

90 10 days NOEC reproduction 2.5 1.617 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran, Daphnia magna

R, U Cadmium

sulfate

100 25 days NOEC (20 C)

reproduction

NOEC (25 C)

reproduction

2.250.75

1.346

0.4488

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

- Cadmium

chloride

57 140 days Reduced

reproduction

1 0.9075 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

- Cadmium

chloride

110 48 hr LC50 (fed) 115

(104-127)

51.59 

Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex

- Cadmium

chloride

106 58 days MATC 7.1

(5-10)

4.069 

Cladoceran,Daphnia pulex

S, U - 45 48 hr LC50 68

(fed

bacterial

suspension)

75.69 

Cladoceran,Daphnia pulex

- Cadmium

sulfate

100 72 hr LC50 (fed) 85.8

(80-92)

42.41 

Cladoceran (<24 hr),Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

200

(well

water)

48 hr LC50 100 24.43 

Cladoceran (adult), Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

124-130 48 hr LC50 87.9 34.08 

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

80-90 48 hr LC50 24 13.99 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

80-90 48 hr LC50 (20 C) (fed)

LC50 (26 C) (fed)

42

6

24.493.498

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80-90 21 days NOEC reproduction <0.003 <0.0020 

Cladoceran (<24 hr), Daphnia pulex

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

58

115230

21 days21 days21 days

NOEC survival

NOEC brood sizeNOEC brood size

3.87.57.5

3.4044.0462.421

Cladoceran, Moina macrocopa

- Cadmium

chloride

80-84 20 days Reduced survival 0.2 0.1386 

Cladoceran, Moina macrocopa

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 240 hr Reduced survival 10 - 

Cladoceran, Moina macrocopa

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 320 427.6 

Cladoceran,Simocephalus serrulatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 48 hr LC50 123

(high TOC)

91.35 

Cladoceran,Simocephalus vetulus 

S, U - 45 48 hr LC50 24

(fed

bacterial

suspension)

26.71 

Cladoceran,Simocephalus vetulus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 48 hr LC50 89.3

(high TOC)

66.32 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Copepod, Acanthocyclops viridis

- Cadmium

sulfate

- 72 hr LC50 0.5 - 

Copepod,Eucyclops agilis

- Cadmium

chloride

11.1 52 wk Population

reduction

5 15.25 

Copepod, Mesocyclops hyalinus

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 870 1,162 

Copepod,Heliodinptomus vidus

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 150 200.4 

Copepod, Tropocyclops prasinusmexicanus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

10 48 hr LC50 149 765.2 

Copepod, Stenocypris malcolmsoni

S, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

37.6 48 hr LC50 11,500 15,365 

Amphipod, Diporeia sp.

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 (4 C)

 LC50 (10 C) 

 LC50 (15 C)

800280

60

---

Amphipod,Gammaruspseudolimnaeus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 54.4 40.40 

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

S, M Cadmium

chloride

217-301 24 hr LC50 140 26.30 

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 285

(high TOC)

211.7 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

15.3 96 hr LC50 12 (pH-5.0)

16 (pH=5.5)33 (pH=6.0)

40.0053.33110.0

Amphipod (0-2 d), Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 13 7.15 

Amphipod (2-4 d), Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 7.5 4.13 

Amphipod (4-6 d), Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 9.5 5.23 

Amphipod (10-12 d), Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 7 3.85 

Amphipod (16-18 d),Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 11.5 6.33 

Amphipod (24-26 d), Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 96 hr LC50 14 7.70 

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

R, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

130 6 wk EC50 0.53 0.2006 

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

44-47 10 days LC50 2.8 3.003 

Amphipod, Hyalella azteca

S, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

280-300 96 hr LC50 

(fed)

230 38.52 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Crayfish, Cambarus latimanus

- Cadmium

chloride

11.1 5 mo Significant

mortality

5 15.25 

Crayfish,Orconectes immunis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

50.3 96 hr LC50 >10,000 >9,939 

Anostracan crustacean,Brachionus calyciflorus

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

250 24 hr EC50 120 23.37 

Anostracan crustacean,Streptocephalusrubricaudatus

S, U Cadmium

sulfate

250 24 hr EC50 250 48.68 

Anostracan crustacean,Thamnocephalusplatyurus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

80-100 24 hr LC50 400 220.1 

Mayfly, Cloeon dipterum

- Cadmium

sulfate

- 72 hr LC50 (10 C)

 (15 C) (25 C) (30 C)

70,60028,600

6,990

930

----

Mayfly, Cloeon dipterum

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 56,000 - 

Damselfly, Enallagma sp.

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

15.3 96 hr LC50 7,050

(pH=3.5)

 8,660

(pH=4.0)

10,660

(pH=4.5)

23,49728,86335,528
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mayfly,Ephemerella sp.

- Cadmium

chloride

44-48 28 days LC50 <3.0 <3.191 

Mayfly,Paraleptophiebiapraepedita

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-77 96 hr LC50 449 338.6 

Mayfly,Hexagenia rigida

- Cadmium

nitrate

79.1 96 hr LC50 1,000 627.3 

Mosquito,Aedes aegypti

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 4,000 - 

Mosquito,Culex pipiens

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 765 - 

Midge, Chironomus tentans

S, U Cadmium

chloride

25 48 hr LC50 8,050 16,286 

Midge (1st instar), 

Chironomus riparius

S, M, T - 100 1 hr

10 hr

Reduced emergenceReduced emergence

2,100

210

1,038103.8

Midge (4th instar), 

Chironomus riparius

S, M, T - 100 1 hr

10 hr

Reduced emergenceReduced emergence

2,000

200

988.698.86

Midge (1st instar), 

Chironomus riparius

R, M, T - 98 17 days LOEC survival,

development and

growth

150 91.11 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Midge (2nd instar), 

Chironomus riparius

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

100-110 96 hr LC50 (fed) 13,000 6,115 

Midge (3rd instar), 

Chironomus riparius

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

100-110 96 hr LC50 (fed) 22,000 10,348 

Midge (4th instar), 

Chironomus riparius

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

100-110 96 hr LC50 (fed) 54,000 25,400 

Midge, Chironomus riparius

S, U Cadmium

chloride

98 120 hr

10 days

LOEC (egg

viability)

LOEC (number of

eggs ovipositioned)

30,000

100,000

18,22260,739

Midge, Tanytarsus dissimilis

- Cadmium

chloride

47 10 days LC50 3.8 3.978 

Pink salmon (newlyhatched alevin),Oncorhynchus gobuscha

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 3,600 2,148 

Pink salmon (alevin),Oncorhynchus gobuscha

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 3,160 1,885 

Pink salmon (fry),Oncorhynchus gobuscha

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 2,700 1,611 

Coho salmon (juvenile),Oncorhynchus kisutch

- Cadmium

chloride

22 217 hr LC50 2.0 4.608 

Coho salmon (adult),Oncorhynchus kisutch

- Cadmium

chloride

22 215 hr LC50 3.7 8.524 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Coho salmon (alevin),Oncorhynchus kisutch

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 96 hr LC50 6.0 7.341 

Sockeye salmon (newlyhatched alevin),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 4,500 2,685 

Sockeye salmon(alevin),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 1,000 596.6 

Sockeye salmon(alevin),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 500 298.3 

Sockeye salmon (fry),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 30 17.90 

Sockeye salmon (fry),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 8 4.773 

Sockeye salmon (smolt),Oncorhynchus nerka

F, U Cadmium

chloride

83.1 168 hr LC50 360 214.8 

Chinook salmon(alevin),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 21.6

(18-26)

47.57 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Chinook salmon (swim-up),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 1.2 2.643 

Chinook salmon (parr),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 1.3 2.863 

Chinook salmon (smolt),Oncorhynchustshawytscha

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 1.5 3.303 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

stearate

- 96 hr LC50 6.0 - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

acetate

- 96 hr LC50 6.2 - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

112 80 min Significant

avoidance

52 22.91 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- - 112 18 mo Reduced survival 0.2 0.1100 

Rainbow trout,(embryo, larva)Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

104 28 days EC50 (death and

deformity)

140 81.37 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- - - 240 hr LC50 7

5

- 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout (adult),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

54 408 hr LC50 5.2 4.912 

Rainbow trout (alevin),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

23 186 hr LC10 >6 >13.21 

Rainbow trout (swim-up),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 1.0 2.202 

Rainbow trout (parr),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 0.7 1.541 

Rainbow trout (smolt),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

23 200 hr LC10 0.8 1.762 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

sulfate

326 96 hr LC20 20 2.973 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

stearate

- 10 wk BCF = 27

BCF = 40

- - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

acetate

- 10 wk BCF = 63 - - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

125 10 days LC50 (18 C)

 (12 C)

 (6 C)

17.3 (10-30)

30

17.3 (10-30)

6.81611.826.816

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

sulfate

240 234 days Increased gill

diffusion

2 0.6256 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

320 4 mo Physiological

effects

10 2.528 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

98.6 47 days Reduced growth

and survival

100 60.47 

Rainbow trout,(embryo, larva)Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

sulfate

100 62 days Reduced Survival <5 <2.992 

Rainbow trout (larva),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

89-107 7 days LC50 700 353.2 

Rainbow trout (larva),Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

89-107 7 days LC50 after 24 days

acclimated to 5.9

μg/L

1,590 802.2 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 55 - 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 10.2

(high TOC)

7.575 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

82 11 days LC50 (10 C) 16.0 9.676 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

82 8 days LC50 (15 C) 16.6 10.04 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

- Cadmium

chloride

82 178 days Physiological

effects

4.8

(3.6-6.4)

3.327 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout,(egg-0 hr)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 13,000 13,000 

Rainbow trout,(egg-24 hr)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 13,000 13,000 

Rainbow trout,(eyed egg-14 d)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 7,500 7,500 

Rainbow trout,(eyed egg-28 d)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 9,200 9,200 

Rainbow trout,(sac fry-42 d)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 30 30.00 

Rainbow trout,(early fry-77 d)Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, U Cadmium

chloride

50 96 hr LC50 10 10.00 

Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

R, M, D Cadmium

chloride

63

300

96 hr96 hr

LC50 (fed)LC50 (fed)

1,3002,600

1,028420.6

Rainbow trout, (5 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 >100,000 >56,483 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout,(10 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 3,300 1,864 

Rainbow trout,(15 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 7,200 4,067 

Rainbow trout,(22 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 8,000 4,519 

Rainbow trout,(29 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 12,500 7,060 

Rainbow trout,(36 d post fertilization)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 16,500 9,320 

Rainbow trout,(alevin, 2 d post hatch)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 5,800 3,276 

Rainbow trout,(alevin, 7 d post hatch)Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

87.7 48 hr LC50 8,300 4,688 

Rainbow trout(alevin),Oncorhynchus mykiss

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 96 hr LC50 37.9 46.37 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Rainbow trout (fry),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

9.2 96 hr LC50 28 (pH=4.7)

0.7

(pH=5.7)

156.53.913

Rainbow trout (36 g),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T - 50 96 hr LC50 2.7 2.700 

Rainbow trout (36 g),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T - 200 96 hr LC50 3.2 0.7818 

Rainbow trout (36 g),Oncorhynchus mykiss

F, M, T - 400 96 hr LC50 7.6 0.9178 

Brown trout,Salmo trutta

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 15.1 11.21 

Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar

- Cadmium

chloride

13 70 days Reduced growth 2 5.426 

Atlantic salmon (alevin),Salmo salar

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

28 92 days Net water uptake

inhibited

0.78 1.199 

Brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

- Cadmium

chloride

10 21 days Testicular damage 10 32.95 

Brook trout (8 months),Salvelinus fontinalis

R, M, T - 20 10 days NOEL survival 8 20.31 

Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

90 8-9 mo Decreased thyroid

follicle epithelial

cell height

5 3.235 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Arctic grayling (alevin),Thymallus arcticus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 96 hr LC50 6.1

(1-d

acclimation)

7.464 

Arctic grayling(juvenile), Thymallus arcticus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

41 96 hr LC50 4.0

(low D.O.)

4.894 

Goldfish (embryo, larva),Carassius auratus

- Cadmium

chloride

195 7 days EC50 (death and

deformity)

170 43.62 

Goldfish,Carassius auratus

- - - 50 days Reduced plasma

sodium

44.5 - 

Common carp (embryo),Cyprinus carpio

- Cadmium

sulfate

360 - EC50 (hatch) 2,094 281.5 

Common carp (fry),Cyprinus carpio

S, U - 100 96 hr LC50 4,260 2,106 

Common carp(fingerling), Cyprinus carpio

S, U, - 100 96 hr LC50 17,050 8,428 

Common carp (embryo, larva),Cyprinus carpio

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

101.6 8 days LC50 (multiplespecies test) 139 67.61 

Common shiner(0.75-3.5 mg), Notropis cornutus

R, M, D Cadmium

chloride

48 7 days 67% reduced

growth

200 208.5 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

63 96 hr LC50 80.8 63.88 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

55 96 hr LC50 40.9 37.12 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

59 96 hr LC50 64.8 54.77 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

66 96 hr LC50 135 101.8 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

65 96 hr LC50 120 91.91 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

74 96 hr LC50 86.3 57.93 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

79 96 hr LC50 86.6 54.40 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

62 96 hr LC50 114 91.61 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

63 96 hr LC50 80.8 63.88 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

nitrate

- 48 hr LC50 2,200 - 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

103 6.8 hr LT50 6,000 2,878 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

254-271 3.7 hr LT50 16,000 2,965 

Fathead minnow (larva),Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

89-107 7 days LC50 200 100.9 

Fathead minnow (larva),Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

89-107 7 days LC50 after 4 days

acclimated to 5.6

μg/L

540 272.5 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

chloride

- 4 days Histological effects 12,000 - 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

- Cadmium

nitrate

209 48 hr LC50 802 187.4 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 3,390 2,518 

Fathead minnow,Pimephales promelas

F, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 1,830 1,359 

Fathead minnow (1-7 d),Pimephales promelas

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

70-90 48 hr LC50 35.4 21.95 

Fathead minnow(embryo, larva),Pimephales promelas

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

101.6 8 days LC50 125 (20.1C)

 84 

(22.8C)

 76 

(25.7C)

 87 

(27.9C)

60.8040.8636.9642.31
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Fathead minnow(embryo, larva),Pimephales promelas

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

101.6 8 days LC50

NOEC

4112

19.945.836

Fathead minnow(embryo, larva),Pimephales promelas

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

101.6 8 days LC50 (multiplespecies test) 107 52.04 

Fathead minnow (30 d),Pimephales promelas

F, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

44 96 hr LC50 13.2 15.03 

Fathead minnow (14-30 d), Pimephales promelas

S, U Cadmium

chloride

200 96 hr LC50 90 21.99 

White sucker (larva), Catostomus commersoni

R, M, D Cadmium

chloride

48 7 days 46% reduced

growth

36 37.53 

Brown bullhead,Ictalurus nebulosus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 2 hr Affected gills and

kidney

61,300 - 

Channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Increased albinism 0.5 - 

Channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

- Cadmium

chloride

- - BCF = 4.0-6.7 - - 

Channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 7,940 5,897 

Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 14 days 60% mortality 8,993 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

5 96 hr TL50 12.2 126.8 

Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 8 wk BCF = 6,100 at

0.02 μg/L & 1.13

ppm added to food

- - 

Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis

- Cadmium

chloride

29 8 wk BCF = 1,430 at 10

μg/L & 1.13 ppm

added to food

- - 

Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis

R, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

45 48 hr LC50 7,260 8,081 

Guppy,Poecilla reticulata

- Cadmium

nitrate

209 48 hr LC50 41,900 9,789 

Guppy, Lebistes reticulatus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

140-190 96 hr LC50 (fry)

LC50 (male)

LC50 (female)

 2,500

12,75016,000

742.73,7884,753

Threespine stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus

F, M, T Cadmium

sulfate

299 18 days Kidney cell tissue

breakdown

6,000 1,595 

Bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

- Cadmium

chloride

112 80 min Significant

avoidance

>41.1 >18.10 

Bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

- Cadmium

chloride

340-360 3 days Increased cough

rate

50 6.916 

Bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

S, M Cadmium

chloride

55-79 96 hr LC50 8,810 6,543 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Bluegill (juvenile),Lepomis macrochirus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

134 32 days NOEC growth >32.3 >15.56 

Bluegill (31.1 ± 1.3 mm),Lepomis macrochirus

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

174 22 days LOEC prey attack

rate

37.3 14.81 

Largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides

- Cadmium

chloride

112 80 min Significant

avoidance

8.83 3.890 

Largemouth bass,(embryo, larva)Micropterus salmoides

- Cadmium

chloride

99 8 days EC50 (death and

deformity)

1,640 818.9 

Largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides

- - - 24 hr Affected opercular

activity

150 - 

Largemouth bass,(embryo, larva),Micropterus salmoides

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

101.6 8 days LC50 (multiplespecies test) 244 118.7 

Orangethroat darter(embryo), Etheostoma spectabile

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

180 96 hr LC50 >500 >136.0 

Tilapia (larva <1 d),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 205 - 

Tilapia (larva, 1 d),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 83 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

Tilapia (larva, 2 d),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 33 - 

Tilapia (larva, 3 d),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 22 - 

Tilapia (larva, 7 d),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr LC50 29 - 

Tilapia (72 hr),Oreochromismossambica

S, U Cadmium

chloride

28 96 hr LC50 21.4 38.58 

Narrow-mouthed toad(embryo, larva),Gastrophyrynecarolinensis

- Cadmium

chloride

195 7 days EC50 (death and

deformity)

40 10.03 

African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

- Cadmium

nitrate

209 48 hr LC50 11,700 2,733 

African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

- - 170 48 hr LC50 3,200 922.3 

African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis

- - 170 100 days Inhibited

development

650 262.5 

African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 24 hr LC50 (stage 40) 1,000 - 
Table 6a. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Freshwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Hardness

(mg/L as 

CaCO3) Duration Effect

Result 

(Total 

 μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH=50

(Total

 μg/L) 

A

(

FRESHWATER SPECIES

African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 72 hr LC50 (stage 40)

LC50 (stage 47)

0.21.6

--

Northwesternsalamander (3 mo larva),Ambystoma gracile

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

45 10 days LOAEC (limb

regeneration)

44.6 49.64 

Northwesternsalamander, Ambystoma gracile

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

45 10 days LOAEL growth 227 252.7 

Marbled salamander(embryo, larva), Ambystoma opacum

- Cadmium

chloride

99 8 days EC50 (death and

deformity)

150 74.90 

Lake study, Periphytonand amphipods

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 120 days BCF = 64,000

(periphyton) 

BCF = 24,000

(Hyalella azteca)

--

--

Stream microcosm F, M, T Cadmium

nitrate

- 21 days No effect on

periphyton

structure, but

adverse effect on

invertebrate grazers

and collectors

22 - 

a S= static, R= renewal, F= flow-through, M= measured, U= unmeasured, T= total measured concentration, D=dissolved metal concentratib Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms 

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Bacterium (Microtox®),Vibrio fischeri

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

35 22 hr EC50 214 - 

Natural phytoplanktonpopulation

- Cadmium

chloride

- 4 days Reduced biomass 112 - 

Green alga, Acetabulariaacetabulum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 3 wk Morphological

deformities

Decreased cell

elongation

100

1

--

Phytoflagellate,Olisthodiscus luteus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

- 192 hr 27% biovolume

reduction

500 - 

Red alga, Champia parvula

R, U Cadmium

chloride

28-30 2 days NOEC sexual

reproduction

>100 - 

Alga, Tetraselmis gracilis

S, U - - 96 hr LC50 1,800 - 

Diatom, Minutocelluspolymorphus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr EC50 66 - 

Diatom, Skeletonema costatum

S, U - - 10 days EC50 growth 450 - 

Diatom, Skeletonema costatum

S, U Cadmium

chloride

- 72 hr EC50 144 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Hydroid, Campanularia flexuosa

- - - - Enzyme inhibition 40-75 - 

Hydroid, Campanularia flexuosa

- - - 11 days Growth rate 110-280 - 

Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

15 24 hr LC50 54,900 - 

Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

S, U Cadmium

chloride

30 24 hr LC50 56,800 - 

Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

S, U Cadmium

nitrate

15 24 hr LC50 >39,000 - 

Polychaete worm,Neanthesarenaceodentata

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 days LC50 3,000 - 

Polychaete worm,Capitella capitata

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 days LC50 630 - 

Polychaete worm,Capitella capitata

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 days LC50 700 - 

Polychaete worm, Nereisvirens

R, M Cadmium

chloride

- 144 hr LC50 170 - 

Clam, Macoma balthica

R, M Cadmium

chloride

- 144 hr LC50 1,710 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

- Cadmium

EDTA

- 28 days BCF = 252 - - 

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

- Cadmium

alginate

- 28 days BCF = 252 - - 

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

- Cadmium

humate

- 28 days BCF = 252 - - 

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

- Cadmium

pectate

- 28 days BCF = 252 - - 

Blue mussel,Mytilus edulis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 710 - - 

Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

F, M, T Cadmium

chloride

28 2 wk LT50 = 9.5 days

(anoxic conditions)

47 - 

Bay scallop, Argopecten irradians

- Cadmium

chloride

- 42 days EC50 (growth

reduction)

78 - 

Bay scallop, Argopecten irradians

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 168 - - 

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

- Cadmium

iodide

- 40 days BCF = 677 - - 

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 149 - - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica

- Cadmium

chloride

- 2 days Reduction in

embryonic

development

15 - 

Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas

- Cadmium

chloride

- 6 days 50% reduction in

settlement

20-25 - 

Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas

- Cadmium

chloride

- 14 days Growth reduction 10 - 

Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas

- Cadmium

chloride

- 23 days LC50 50 - 

Soft-shell clam,Mya arenaria

- Cadmium

chloride

- 7 days LC50 150 - 

Soft-shell clam,Mya arenaria

- Cadmium

chloride

- 7 days LC50 700 - 

Copepod (nauplius),Eurytemora affinis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 1 day Reduction in

swimming speed

130 - 

Copepod (nauplius),Eurytemora affinis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 2 days Reduction in

development rate

116 - 

Copepod, Eurytemora affinis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

5

15

96 hr96 hr

LC50 (fed)LC50 (fed)

51.6

213

--

Copepod,Tisbe holothurlae

- Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr LC50 970 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

- - 15-23 17 days LC50 11 - 

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

- Cadmium

chloride

30 16 days LC50 28 - 

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

- Cadmium

chloride

- 8 days LC50 60 - 

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

F, M, T - 13-29 28 days NOEC survival,

growth and

reproduction

4-5 - 

Mysid,Americamysis bahia

S, M, T - 12 24 hr Reduced serum

osmolality

3.62 - 

Mysid (8 d),Americamysis bahia

R, U Cadmium

chloride

25 96 hr

7 days

NOEC survival and

growth

NOEC survival and

growth

55

--

Mysid (<72 hr),Americamysis bahia

F, M, T - 10 96 hr LC50 47.0

(20°C)

15.5

(25°C)

--

Mysid (<72 hr),Americamysis bahia

F, M, T - 20 96 hr LC50 73.0 

(20°C)

20.5

(25°C)

--
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mysid (<72 hr),Americamysis bahia

F, M, T - 30 96 hr LC50 85.0

(20°C)

28.0

(25°C)

--

Mysid,Mysidopsis bigelowi

- Cadmium

chloride

- 8 days LC50 70 - 

Mysid,Mysidopsis bigelowi

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 days LC50 18 - 

Isopod,Idotea baltica

- Cadmium

sulfate

3 5 days LC50 10,000 - 

Isopod,Idotea baltica

- Cadmium

sulfate

21 3 days LC50 10,000 - 

Isopod,Idotea baltica

- Cadmium

sulfate

14 1.5 days LC50 10,000 - 

Sand shrimp, Crangon septemspinosa

R, M Cadmium

chloride

- 144 hr LC50 1,160 - 

Pink shrimp, Pandalus montagui

R, M Cadmium

chloride

- 144 hr LC50 1,280 - 

Pink shrimp,Penaeus duorarum

- Cadmium

chloride

- 30 days LC50 720 - 

White shrimp,Penaeus setiferus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

11 96 hr LC50 990 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

- 42 days LC50 300 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

5 21 days LC25 50 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

10 21 days LC10 50 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

20 21 days LC5 50 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

10 6 days LC75 300 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

15 6 days LC50 300 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

30 6 days LC25 300 - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 140 - - 

Grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

- Cadmium

chloride

- 29 days LC50 120 - 

American lobster,Homarus americanus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 25 - - 

American lobster,Homarus americanus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 30 days Increase in ATPase

activity

6 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Hermit crab,Pagurus longicarpus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 7 days 25% mortality 270 - 

Hermit crab,Pagurus longicarpus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 60 days LC56 70 - 

Yellow crab, Cancer anthonyi

R, U Cadmium

chloride

34 7 days 28% mortality 1,000 - 

Rock crab, Cancer irroratus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr Enzyme activity 1,000 - 

Rock crab (larva), Cancer irroratus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 28 days Delayed

development

50 - 

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

- Cadmium

nitrate

10 7 days LC50 50 - 

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

- Cadmium

nitrate

30 7 days LC50 150 - 

Blue crab (juvenile), Callinectes sapidus

- Cadmium

chloride

1 4 days LC50 320 - 

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

2.5

25

21 days21 days

LC50LC50

19

186

--

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

28 6-8 days EC50 hatching 0.25 - 

Mud crab (larva),Eurypanopeus depressus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 8 days LC50 10 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Mud crab (larva),Eurypanopeus depressus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 44 days Delay in

metamorphysis

10 - 

Mud crab,Rhithropanopeus harasil

- Cadmium

nitrate

10 11 days LC80 50 - 

Mud crab,Rhithropanopeus harasil

- Cadmium

nitrate

20 11 days LC75 50 - 

Mud crab,Rhithropanopeus harasil

- Cadmium

nitrate

30 11 days LC40 50 - 

Fiddler crab,Uca pugilator

- - - 10 days LC50 2,900 - 

Fiddler crab,Uca pugilator

- Cadmium

chloride

- - Effect on

respiration

1.0 - 

Starfish, Asterias forbesi

- Cadmium

chloride

- 7 days 25% mortality 270 - 

Sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata

S, U Cadmium

chloride

30 1 hr

4 hr

EC50 (sperm cell)

EC50 (embryo

growth

38,00013,900

--

Green sea urchin,Strongylocentrotusdroebachiensis

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 80 min EC50 (sperm- fert.) 26,000 - 

Red sea urchin,Strongylocentrotusfranciscanus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 80 min EC50 (sperm- fert.) 12,000 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Purple sea urchin,Strongylocentrotuspurpuratus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 80 min EC50 (sperm- fert.) 18,000 - 

Purple sea urchin,Strongylocentrotuspurpuratus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

30 40 min NOEC spermfertilization >67 - 

Sand dollar,Dendraster excentricus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

30 80 min EC50 (sperm- fert.) 8,000 - 

Sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus

S, U Cadmium

chloride

30 40 min NOEC spermfertilization >67 - 

Herring (larva),Clupea harengus

- Cadmium

chloride

- - 100% embryonic

survival

5,000 - 

Pacific herring(embryo),Clupea harengus pallasi

- Cadmium

chloride

- <24 hr 17% reduction in

volume

10,000 - 

Pacific herring(embryo),Clupea harengus pallasi

- Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr Decrease in capsule

strength

1,000 - 

Pacific herring(embryo),Clupea harengus pallasi

- Cadmium

chloride

- 48 hr Reduced osmolality

of periviteline fluid

1,000 - 

Sheepshead minnow,Cyprinodon variegatus

R, M, T Cadmium

chloride

34-35 96 hr

7 days

LC50 (fed)

NOEC survival and

growth

1,230

560

--
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Sheepshead minnow,Cyprinodon variegatus

S, M, T,

D 

Cadmium

chloride

5

1525

96 hr96 hr96 hr

LC50 (fed)LC50 (fed)LC50 (fed)

180312496

---

Mummichog (adult),Fundulus heteroclitus

- Cadmium

chloride

20 48 hr LC50 60,000 - 

Mummichog (adult),Fundulus heteroclitus

- Cadmium

chloride

30 48 hr LC50 43,000 - 

Mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 21 days BCF = 48 - - 

Mummichog (larva),Fundulus heteroclitus

- Cadmium

chloride

20 48 hr LC50 32,000 - 

Mummichog (larva),Fundulus heteroclitus

- Cadmium

chloride

30 48 hr LC50 7,800 - 

Mummichog (<23 d),Fundulus heteroclitus

S, M, T Cadmium

chloride

10 48 hr LC50 44,400 - 

Atlantic silverside(adult),Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

20 48 hr LC50 13,000 - 

Atlantic silverside(adult),Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

30 48 hr LC50 12,000 - 

Atlantic silverside,Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

12 19 days LC50 <160 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Atlantic silverside,Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

20 19 days LC50 540 - 

Atlantic silverside,Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

30 19 days LC50 >970 - 

Atlantic silverside(larva),Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

20 48 hr LC50 2,200 - 

Atlantic silverside(larva),Menidia menidia

- Cadmium

chloride

30 48 hr LC50 1,600 - 

Striped bass (juvenile),Morone saxatilis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 90 days Significant decrease

in enzyme activity

5 - 

Striped bass (juvenile),Morone saxatilis

- Cadmium

chloride

- 30 days Significant decrease

in oxygen

consumption

0.5-5.0 - 

Spot (larva),Leiostomus xanthurus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 9 days Incipient LC50 200 - 

Cunner (adult),Tautogolabrusadspersus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 60 days 37.5% mortality 100 - 

Cunner (adult),Tautogolabrusadspersus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 30 days Depressed gill

tissue oxygen

consumption

50 - 
Table 6b. Other Data on Effects of Cadmium on Saltwater Organisms (Continued)

Species Methoda Chemical

Salinity

 (g/kg) Duration Effect

Result

(Total

μg/L)b

Result

Adjusted to

TH = 50

(Total

μg/L)

(

SALTWATER SPECIES

Cunner (adult),Tautogolabrusadspersus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 96 hr Decreased enzyme

activity

3,000 - 

Winter flounder,Pseodopleuronectesamericanus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 8 days 50% viable hatch 300 - 

Winter flounder,Pseodopleuronectesamericanus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 60 days Increased gill tissue

respiration

5 - 

Winter flounder,Pseodopleuronectesamericanus

- Cadmium

chloride

- 17 days Reduction of viable

hatch

586 - 

a S= static, R= renewal, F= flow-through, M= measured, U= unmeasured, T= total measured concentration, D=dissolved metal concentratib Results are expressed as cadmium, not as the chemical.