Testing effects of a mixture of hydrophobic organic contaminants and zinc in <i>Daphnia magna</i>

Ecotoxicity assessments often struggle with contaminant mixtures. This study explored combining chemical activity of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and metals, using zinc as a model. An acute Daphnia magna immobilization test, with protein content as an additional endpoint, revealed an additive sublethal effect. The findings suggest chemical activity could serve as a unified approach for assessing HOCs and metals together, offering a promising method for more accurate environmental toxicity evaluations.