Effects of lanthanum and lanthanum-modified clay on growth, survival and reproduction of Daphnia magna.

The novel lanthanum-modified clay water treatment technology (Phoslock seems very promising in remediation of eutrophied waters. Phoslock is highly efficient in stripping dissolved phosphorous from the water column and in intercepting phosphorous released from the sediments. The active phosphorous-sorbent in Phoslock is the Rare Earth Element lanthanum. A leachate experiment revealed that lanthanum could be released from the clay, but only in minute quantities of 0.13-2.13microgl(-1) for a worst-case Phoslock dosage of 250mgl(-1). A life-history experiment with the zooplankton grazer Daphnia magna revealed that lanthanum, up to the 1000microgl(-1) tested, had no toxic effect on the animals, but only in medium without phosphorous. In the presence of phosphorous, rhabdophane (LaPO(4).nH(2)O) formation resulted in significant precipitation of the food algae and consequently affected life-history traits. With increasing amounts of lanthanum, in the presence of phosphate, animals remained smaller, matured later, and reproduced less, resulting in lower population growth rates. Growth rates were not affected at 33microgLal(-1), but were 6% and 7% lower at 100 and 330microgl(-1), respectively, and 20% lower at 1000microgl(-1). A juvenile growth assay with Phoslock tested in the range 0-5000mgl(-1), yielded EC(50) (NOEC) values of 871 (100) and 1557 (500)mg Phoslock l(-1) for weight and length based growth rates, respectively. The results of this study show that no major detrimental effects on Daphnia are to be expected from Phoslock or its active ingredient lanthanum when applied in eutrophication control.