The impact of the insecticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) on the clearance rate (CR) of Daphnia magna was investigated using artificial beads. CR (24-h EC50: 65 &mgr;g L-1) was found to be a more sensitive endpoint than acute lethality for D. magna (48-h LC50: 516 &mgr;g L-1). The onset of the effect was rapid; after 2 h of exposure to approximately 241 &mgr;g L-1 of lindane a significant decrease in CR was observed. Daphnids recovered rapidly after transfer to clean water; after 24 h of exposure to approximately 250 &mgr;g L-1 lindane, transfer into clean water resulted in recovery to 80% of control levels within 2 h and complete recovery within 24 h.