Highway stormwater runoff represents a significant source of dissolved copper to surface
waters. It is well established that even low concentrations of dissolved copper can be toxic to many
aquatic organisms. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, recent research has focused on the
effects of low-level copper exposure...
Low concentrations of dissolved copper have been shown to adversely
affect the olfactory system of endangered salmonids, impairing their ability to avoid predators and likely increasing predation. It is believed that only the free ionic (Cu2+ free) and weakly complexed forms are bioavailable to organisms; these forms typically account for...