Acute and chronic toxicity of copper to the fathead minnow in a surface water of variable quality

Acute and chronic toxicity tests conducted with the fathead minnow and copper used as the source of dilution water a natural stream to which a sewage treatment plant upstream contributed a variety of materials known to affect acute copper toxicity. Nominal total copper 96-h median tolerance limit values (96-h TL50), determined with static testing procedures, ranged from 1.6 to 21 mg l−1. Dissolved copper 96-h TL50 values ranged from 0.60 to 0.98 mg l−1. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) based on survival, growth, reproduction, and hatchability of eggs was between 0.066 and 0.118 mg l−1.