Evaluation of the new enzymatic inhibition criterion for rapid toxicity testing with Daphnia magna

The recently developed 1-h Daphnia magna bioassay was further assessed. This method, which is based on the in vivo observation of the inhibition of an enzymatic process, was used to assess the toxicity of nine pure chemicals and seven complex effluents. The results obtained with the new method (1-h ECsos) were compared to those of the conventional acute D. magna toxicity test (24-hand 48-h ECsos). For the nine chemical compounds, the 1-h ECsos correlated well with the 24-h and 48-h ECsos; however, no significant correlation was found between both test criteria for the complex effluents. The utility and limitations of the 1-h assay are discussed in light of the results