Deriving freshwater quality criteria for copper, cadmium, aluminum and manganese for protection of aquatic life in Malaysia

► Toxicity tests were performed on eight freshwater species in Malaysia. ► Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) and Continuous Concentration (CCC) were derived. ► CMC values for Cu, Cd, Al and Mn are 1.3, 1.5, 488.9 and 39.1 μg L−1, respectively. ► CCC values for Cu, Cd, Al and Mn are 0.3, 0.36, 117.8 and 9.4 μg L−1, respectively.