[Interaction between calcium and lead affects the toxicity to embryo of zebrafish (Danio rerio)]

This study tested the hypothesis that increased Ca2+ content increases the sensitivity of the developing embryos and larvae of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to Pb. And the aim of the study was to investigate the extent to which calcium can individually mitigate lead ion toxicity based on the concept of biotic ligand model (BLM). Embryos of the zebrafish were exposed to various Pb concentrations. Chemical characteristics of water and representative toxicological endpoints of zebrafish embryo were recorded. And general growth retardation as a major toxicological endpoint was used for analysis at 72 h due to its sensitivity and facility. The BLM software of Visual MINTEQ (Version 2.5.2) was employed to calculate the chemical speciation in the solution. The results showed that when Ca2+ concentration increased from 0.25 mmol/L to 2.00 mmol/L, the toxicity of lead on embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio) decreased markedly after 72 h. And a large part of these decrease can be explained by the positive linear relations between EC50{Pb2+}/EC50[Pb]T (expressed as lead ion activity/dissolved total concentration) and activity/total concentration of Ca2+, through which the influence of Ca2+ on toxicity could be predicted. The results support the assumptions of the BLM and associated with competition between lead and calcium for binding on transport and toxic action sites on biological surfaces. However, when Ca2+ concentration increased from 2.00 mmol/L to 4.00 mmol/L, the toxicity of lead on embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio) seemed to be constant at 72 h.