Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 May 2009
Static toxicity tests (20.5 ±1°C, 24 ±2% salinity) were run to assess the toxicity of copper to the embryonic development of Scrobicularia plana (Mollusca: Bivalvia); the end point of interest was the production of D-larvae after 48 h culture. While a nominal concentration of 10 μg Cu I1 was not found to be toxic, an EC90 (concentration preventing 90% of the experimental population from achieving the end point defined) can be set at ~20 μg Cu I1. For this end point, copper is indicated to be 16 times less toxic than the antifoulant tributyltin (TBT). Moreover, copper has probably little relation with the reported recent decline of S. plana throughout northern Europe.