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Chloride Toxicity
The different types of chloride have different toxicity concentrations when it comes to aquatic biota. Potassium chloride has the highest toxicity level to fish and aquatic invertebrates, followed by magnesium chloride, and then calcium chloride, and finally sodium chloride. Compared to fish, aquatic invertebrates are less tolerant of high concentrations of calcium.
Different Aquatic Biota
Compared to fish, invertebrates such as zooplankton and benthic invertebrates are more sensitive to sodium chloride when compared to the toxicity level of fish. As with any toxicity level, the range of toxicity varies widely when examining specific species. Water that has oxygen levels close to saturation makes chloride levels more tolerable for aquatic biota. Studies regarding the effect of different temperature of chloride on aquatic organisms have been inconsistent.
Tolerance
Aquatic biota that were exposed to high levels of chloride experienced a decrease in tolerance the longer they were exposed. It has been noted that short-term exposure of elevated concentrations of chloride may kill adult fish and invertebrates in 15 minutes. Tolerance may be increased by exposing aquatic biota to gradual increases in chloride levels. This will reduce the risk of osmotic shock and other stresses caused by increased salinity.
Road Salt
During the winter when road salts and other de-icing chemicals are used, runoff occurs into lakes and streams and contaminates the habitat of aquatic biota. According to Canada's Environmental Protection Division, road salt may affect a wide range of aquatic biota. These studies have also proven that road salt toxicity is similar to that of sodium and calcium chlorides. Studies have been limited as other contaminants may be found within the chloride runoff, which could also contribute to adverse reactions in aquatic organisms.