The aquatic toxicity of brass particles was examined. Acute, 48 hour bioassays were performed using the water flea, Daphnia magna. Tests were conducted with uniform suspensions of uncoated brass particles, brass particles coated with a Teflon solution, silica particles, and titanium dioxide particles. The Teflon coating solution and the supernatant of the brass suspension (after settling of the brass) also were tested.
All tests were conducted according to guidelines set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Mean EC50 determinations of 20.0 p g I-' and 23.6 p g I-' were calculated for uncoated brass particles and coated brass particles, respectively. The silica, titanium dioxide, and Teflon each had an EC50 > 1 g I-'. Chemical fate studies demonstrated that the brass dissociated to its ionic components of copper and zinc quickly at pH 2.0. At pH 5.0 and 6.5, the dissociation occurred too slowly to account for the observed toxicity. The data suggested that the toxicity is due to filtration by the daphnids and subsequent ingestion. EC50 determinations for the brass particles are nearly identical with published EC50 values for copper salts.