Chronic toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to Daphnia magna in a continuous exposure, 
flow­-through test system.

Meinertz, J.R., S.L. Greseth, M.P. Gaikowski, and L.J. Schmidt.  2008.  Science of the 
Total Environment, 392:225-232.


Abstract
A flow-through, continuous exposure test system was developed to expose Daphnia 
magna to an unstable compound.  35% Perox-AidŽ is a specially formulated hydrogen 
peroxide (a highly oxidative chemical) product approved for use in U.S. aquaculture and 
therefore has the potential to be released from aquaculture facilities and pose a risk to 
aquatic invertebrates.  The study objective was to assess the effects of 35% Perox-AidŽ 
on an aquatic invertebrate by evaluating the survival, growth, production, and gender 
ratio of progeny from a representative aquatic invertebrate continuously exposed to 35% 
Perox-AidŽ.  The study design consisted of 6 treatment groups (10 test chambers each) 
with target hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 0.0, 0.32, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg L-
1.  The study was initiated with <24 h old Daphnia (1 daphnid per chamber) that were 
exposed to hydrogen peroxide for 21 days.  Hydrogen peroxide concentrations ?1.25 mg 
L-1 had no significant effect on Daphnia time to death compared to controls and no 
significant effect on the time to first brood production and the number of broods 
produced.  Concentrations ?0.63 mg L-1 had no significant effect on the total number of 
young produced.  Concentrations ?0.32 mg L-1 had a negative effect on Daphnia growth.  
Hydrogen peroxide had no significant effect on the gender ratio of young produced.  All 
second generation Daphnia were female.  A continuous discharge of hydrogen peroxide 
into aquatic ecosystems is not likely to affect cladocerans if the concentration is 
maintained at ?0.63 mg L-1 for less than 21 days.