Biological criteria for freshwater Cd in China

Toxicity effects of Cd on resident freshwater species in China were studied. Acceptable data including the acute effects of Cd on 43 species and chronic effects on 14 species are available. According to the guidelines for deriving water quality criteria issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the freshwater biological criteria for Cd in China, which includes the Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) and the Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) was derived. The results showed that the CMC and CCC of freshwater for Cd in China were 2.1μg·L-1 and 0.23μg·L-1, respectively. They differ from the biological criteria for Cd in freshwater in the United States to some degree. This research provides important information for the study of water quality standards for Cd in China.