The acute and chronic toxicity of cadmium to different life history stages of the freshwater crustacean Asellus aquaticus (L)

Different life history stages of the freshwater isopod crustacean Asellus aquaticus were exposed to range of cadmium concentrations. Median lethal concentrations were 80 MG cd/l for juveniles up to greater than 2000 MG cd/l for embryos. Pretreatment of eggs with Cd did not increase their tolerance to the metal as juveniles. Responses of each stage are assessed in relation to the use of macroinvertebrate toxicity test data in predicting hazardous effects of pollutants.