Metals in and Effect on Whole Organisms

Many attempts have been made to correlate the physiological action of the elements with their physical or chemical properties, but with only partial success. 

The results of this investigation. .. establish a toxicity sequence. .. that is of very general significance in aquatic biology and one that is also firmly based on the principles of co-ordination chemistry. 

Quantitative ion character-activity relationships can be developed for a range of effects based on metal-ligand binding theory. 

Developing and validating Quantitative Cationic Activity Relationships or (Q)CARs to predict the toxicity [of] metals is challenging because of issues associated with metal speciation, complexation and interactions within biological systems and the media used to study these interactions. 

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