Global geographic differences in marine metals toxicity.

Biochemical reaction rates, metabolic rates, and other rates of biological activity increase exponentially with temperature. It has thus been hypothesized that toxicity to chemical contaminants may increase from polar to temperate to tropical species; however, until recently, polar data to test this hypothesis were not available. This study examined differences in the acute sensitivities of marine invertebrates to four metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb) for polar, temperate and tropical species; data deficiencies for polar regions prohibited comparisons using chronic end-points or other chemicals. Differences between the three geographic regions were not predictable based on temperature (other factors such as differences in dissolved organic carbon concentrations also affect toxicity). There appears to be no universal, predictable pattern of increased toxicity from polar to tropical regions. Toxicity data from one geographic region will not be universally protective of other regions.