Fathead minnow optomotor response as a behavioral endpoint in aquatic toxicity testing

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann de Peyster ◽  
Whitney F. Long
Keyword(s):  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Optomotor Response

Chemical characterization and biotreatability of effluents from an integrated alkaline-peroxide mechanical pulping/machine finish coated (APMP/MFC) paper mill

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schnell ◽  
M. J. Sabourin ◽  
S. Skog ◽  
M. Garvie
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Alkaline Peroxide ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Treated Effluent

As part of an extensive audit of the Alkaline-Peroxide Mechanical Pulping (APMPTM) plant at the Malette Quebec Inc. mill in St. Raymond, Que., effluents were sampled from various stages of the process for comprehensive chemical characterizations, aquatic toxicity testing and anaerobic biotreatability assessments. In addition, untreated and secondary treated combined effluent from the integrated paper mill were sampled to determine the effectiveness of a conventional activated sludge process at the mill site. During the one-day sampling period, the APMP plant processed a mixed wood furnish consisting of 50% spruce/balsam fir and 50% aspen, with a chemical charge of 3.5% sodium hydroxide and 3.8% hydrogen peroxide on oven-dry fibre, while the Machine Finish Coated (MFC) paper production rate was 100 odt/d (oven dry metric tonnes per day). Measured production-specific contaminant discharge loadings from the novel APMP process were 56 kg BOD5/odt and 155 kg COD/odt in a combined effluent flow of 28 m3/odt. Sources of process effluent were chip washing, three stages of wood chip pretreatment and chemical impregnation (i.e., Impressafiner stages), interstate washing and pulp cleaning. The three Impressafiner pressates were found to be the most concentrated (i.e., 12-26 g COD/L) and toxic streams. Microtox testing of the pressates revealed EC50 concentrations of 0.07-0.34% v/v. The warm and concentrated effluents generated by the non-sulphur APMP process were found to be highly amenable to anaerobic degradation as determined by batch bioassay testing. Filterable BOD5 and COD(f) of the process effluents were reduced by 87-95% and 70-77%, respectively, with corresponding theoretical methane yields being attained. Acid-soluble dissolved lignin compounds exhibited biorecalcitrance, as revealed by limited removals of 34-55%, and were the main constituents contributing to residual COD(f), while resin and fatty acids (RFA) were reduced by 80-94%. The conservatively operated full scale activated sludge treatment process achieved a similar high 74% COD(f) removal from the whole mill effluent, while BOD5 and RFA reductions were virtually complete and the treated effluent was non-toxic, as measured by Microtox.

Activated Sludge Treatment of Ethoxylate Surfactants at High Industrial Use Concentrations

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Salanitro ◽  
G. C. Langston ◽  
P. B. Dorn ◽  
L. Kravetz
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Treatment Process ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Alcohol Ethoxylate ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Nonylphenol Ethoxylate ◽  
Incomplete Removal ◽  
Industrial Use ◽  
Bod Removal

The primary degradation of a linear alcohol ethoxylate (AE) and a branched nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) was investigated in bench-scale activated sludge units treating a synthetic sewage feed. Biotreaters were gradually adapted to 10-100 mg/ℓ surfactant and effluents monitored for loss of nonionic ethoxylate, foaming, feed BOD removal, nitrification and biosolids growth. Both surfactants were degraded at influent doses of 10-40 mg/ℓ. Substantial BOD breakthrough, loss of nitrification, aerator foaming and incomplete removal of the NPE surfactant occurred when fed at 80 and 100 mg/ℓ while the unit treating AE was unaffected by high surfactant levels. Comparative aquatic toxicity of the biotreated waste at high surfactant levels indicated that the NPE effluent was acutely toxic (EC50, 7-15% effluent) to the fathead minnow and Daphnia while that of the AE unit was non-toxic (EC50, > 100% effluent) to these same species. These studies indicate that the treatment of wastes containing high levels of NPE ethoxylates may adversely impact an activated sludge process in incomplete degradation and foaming, impaired BOD removal, loss in nitrification and the formation of toxic effluents. AE surfactants, however, undergo extensive microbial degradation and cause little or no impact on the activated sludge treatment process.

Silica gel as a particulate carrier of poorly water-soluble substances in aquatic toxicity testing

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Breitholtz ◽  
Niklas Ricklund ◽  
Bengt-Erik Bengtsson ◽  
N. Johan Persson
Keyword(s):  
Silica Gel ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Poorly Water Soluble ◽  
Particulate Carrier

Integrated Decision-tree Testing Strategies for Environmental Toxicity with Respect to the Requirements of the EU REACH Legislation

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Decision Tree ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Threshold Concentration ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Animal Testing ◽  
Testing Strategies

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME recently conducted a research project sponsored by Defra on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with the REACH system. This paper focuses on the prospects for using alternative methods (both in vitro and in silico) for environmental (aquatic) toxicity testing. The manuscript reviews tests based on fish cells and cell lines, fish embryos, lower organisms, and the many expert systems and QSARs for aquatic toxicity testing. Ways in which reduction and refinement measures can be used are also discussed, including the Upper Threshold Concentration — Step Down (UTC) approach, which has recently been retrospectively validated by ECVAM and subsequently endorsed by the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC). It is hoped that the application of this approach could reduce the number of fish used in acute toxicity studies by around 65–70%. Decision-tree style integrated testing strategies are also proposed for acute aquatic toxicity and chronic toxicity (including bioaccumulation), followed by a number of recommendations for the future facilitation of aquatic toxicity testing with respect to environmental risk assessment.

Toxicity Identification and Reduction Evaluation in Petrochemical Effluents – SITEL Case

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brandelli ◽  
M. L. Baldasso ◽  
E. P. Goettems
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Industrial Effluent ◽  
Liquid Waste ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Treatment System ◽  
Dissolved Air Flotation ◽  
Industrial Plants ◽  
Toxicity Reduction ◽  
Toxicity Identification

SITEL, Integrated Wastewater Treatment System of South Petrochemical Complex,has been processing liquid waste from this industrial area since November, 1982. The complex consists of an olefins plant and some second-generation plants that produce mainly thermoplastic resins. The raw industrial effluent is segregated in the plants in two main streams: organic and inorganic. The organic treatment consists of water-oil separator, equalization basin and dissolved air flotation (primary treatment), activated sludge and multi-media filters (secondary treatment) and stabilization ponds (tertiary treatment). The final effluent is applied on land by perforated PVC pipelines and sprinklers. In 1986, an aquatic toxicity test laboratory was implemented. It uses fish (Pimephales promelas) and crustaceans (Daphnia similis), according to methodology reported by EPA. A three-step protocol has been developed to characterize the whole effluent toxicity reduction in a, treatment system as well as to identify the sources of toxicity in industrial plants. The first step consists of toxicity identification and characterization of effluents at several monitoring points of SITEL. After analysing the results of the first step, it is possible to evaluate the toxicity reduction obtained by the treatment system and environmental toxicity evaluation. The second step consists of identification of the sources of toxicity in industrial plants through comparative study of organic and inorganic effluents of the complex, prioritizing the most toxic effluents. The last step consists of a toxic fraction identification, based on sequential physico/chemical fractionations of the effluent with associated toxicity testing using aquatic organisms. This paper presents the results that have been obtained so far and a previous evaluation of the main contributors for the toxicity of the effluents.

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