Ecotoxicological assessment of effluents in the Basque country (Northern Spain) by acute and chronic toxicity tests using Daphnia magna straus (original) (raw)
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This document has been reviewed by the National Exposure Research Laboratory-Cincinnati (NERL-Cincinnati), U. S". Environmental Protectiol1 Agency (USEPA) : and approved for•" publication. The mention of trade names or commercial prQducts does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for'use.' The results of data analyses by computer programs described in the section on data analys:i-s were verifiedusing.data commonly obtained from effluent toxicity tests. However, these com;puter programs may not be applicable to all data, (lnd the USEPAassumes no responsibility for their use. Following review and recommendations by the PRe 1:0 the State' of" California for use of the procedures' in this rep<?rt, 'EPA (OR&D'" v and Region 9) modified the format for all methods to provide consistency among the methods as well as consistency with existing EPA Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing Manuals. Review of the results from tests using the methods in this report indicated that they are analogous to, and as sensitive •as, the methods previously proposed for estimating the chronic toxicity of effluents and receiving waters to marine and estuarine organisms (U.S. EPA 1994). The primary exception is the ,suite of invertebrate embryo-larval tests contained in this manual. These tests have been in regulatory and monitoring use on the west coast, some for many years. They tend to be more sensitive test organisms to many chemicals and the tests are more robust statistically. They have no analog in the previous EPA methods manuals, although a similar test has been proposed by the EPA laboratory in Narragansett for use in monitoring sedimentassociated contaminants with the bivalve Mulinia lateralis.
Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing—Usefulness, Level of Protection, and Risk Assessment
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2000
The general status of whole effluent toxicity (WET) tests is assessed relative to their generally accepted purpose of identifying, characterizing, and eliminating toxic effects of effluents on aquatic resources. Although WET tests are useful, they are not perfect tools (no perfect tools exist). Imperfections include the innate variability of these tests, due both to biotic and anthropogenic factors; the reality of species differences both between the laboratory and the field and within the field; and differences between the laboratory and the receiving environment. Whole effluent toxicity tests may be overprotective (because of their conservative nature, the absence of environmental and ecological processes that could ameliorate exposure, and sensitivity to noncontaminant effects), underprotective (because the most sensitive species cannot be tested, multiple stresses tend to be present in the receiving environment, and failure to account for food chain effects or all possible endpoints), or offer an uncertain level of protection (intermittent doses and mixtures in the environment, adaptations, and hormesis). The implication of hormesis and inverted U-shaped dose responses for WET testing are reviewed in particular detail. Comparisons to field conditions indicate that WET tests are not reliable predictors of effects or lack of effects in the receiving environment. Whole effluent toxicity tests are only the first stage in a risk assessment and as such identify hazard, not risk. Identification of risk requires discarding the concept of independent applicability. The appropriate use of WET tests is identified in the context of their advantages and disadvantages.
Performance characteristics of effluent toxicity tests: Summarization and evaluation of data
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1992
With increased use of toxicity testing for monitoring effluent toxicity, it is important to evaluate the precision of effluent toxicity tests To address this need, we identified, compiled, summarized, and evaluated published and unpublished data from intralaboratory and interlaboratory studies on the variability of acute and chronic effluent toxicity tests for single chemicals and effluents A total of 23 published and unpublished reports were identified The most extensive data on test variability are available for acute tests with Daphnia spp , Pirnephalespromelas, and Mysidopsis bahia and chronic tests with Pirnephalespromelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Cyprinodon variegatus All other tests have considerably fewer data Data on which to evaluate the variability of toxicity tests produced by the most current U S Environmental Protection Agency methods are not extensive Mean C V s for intralaboratory studies (7-33%) were smaller than those for interlaboratory studies (34-46%) However, mean intra and interlaboratory C V s for chronic tests (7-3870) were generally equal to or smaller than those from acute tests (17-46%) Also, C V s from single chemical tests (32-46%) were generally larger than those from effluent tests (7-34%)
Using Field Data and Weight of Evidence to Develop Water Quality Criteria
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2008
In the United States, ambient aquatic life water quality criteria are derived using guidelines developed in 1985 that include a clear and consistent methodology using data from standard toxicity tests. The methodology from these guidelines has been successful, but a broader methodology is needed because some effects of pollutants do not lend themselves to conventional toxicity testing. Criterion assessment is proposed as that methodology. In criterion assessment, a specific environmental goal is translated into a measurable benchmark of effect that is used together with a modeled exposureresponse relationship to estimate a range of exposures that will achieve the specific goal. The model of the exposureresponse relationships and the benchmark effect are developed from field data and laboratory data using multiple analytical methods. Then the model is solved for the effect, thereby estimating the criterion, an upper threshold for acceptable exposures. The resulting candidate criteria are synthesized to select criteria and other benchmark values, such as remedial goals. The criterion assessment process is illustrated using the US Environmental Protection Agency Framework for Developing for Suspended and Bedded Sediments Water Quality Criteria, which recommends developing alternative candidate criterion values and then evaluating them to select a final criterion. Candidate criteria may be derived from models of field observations, field manipulations, laboratory tests, or empirical and theoretical models. Final selection of a criterion uses a weight-of-evidence comparison that engenders confidence because causal associations are confirmed on the basis of different assumptions, independent data sets, and varied statistical methods, thereby compensating for the concerns raised by individual studies and methods. Thus, it becomes possible to specify criteria for agents with biological or physical modes of action, as well as those with chemical modes of action, to best achieve environmental goals.
Science of The Total Environment, 2008
Environmental Risk Assessment of chemical products and effluents within EC countries require the use of cost effective standardized toxicity tests that in most cases are restricted to acute responses to high doses. Thus, subtle ecological effects are underestimated. Here we propose a short-term one day Daphnia magna feeding inhibition test as a cost effective and ecological relevant sublethal bioassay. The sensitivity and reliability of the proposed bioassay was tested in the laboratory against standardized bacteria, algae growth, D. magna and fish acute toxicity test by using 16 chemical mixture × water type combinations that included four different water types fortified with four complex chemical mixtures. Water types included ASTM hard water and three selected effluents diluted 1/10 in water to mimic worse field situations that many overexploited arid river ecosystems suffer during summer months when effluents are discharged into them with little dilution. The results obtained denoted a greater sensitivity of the proposed feeding bioassay in 51 out of 65 tests performed with an average sensitivity 50 fold greater than that of the standardized tests. The greater differences were obtained for mixtures that included narcotic chemicals and the lowest differences for those containing pesticides. Furthermore, feeding responses to the studied contaminant mixtures behaved differently to increasing TOC content than those based on bioluminescent bacteria and algae. Increasing TOC coming from sewage treated effluents decrease toxicity to the latter bioassays but increased those of D. magna feeding bioassays.
Toxicity Assessment and Identification for Protection of Natural Waters
Canadian Water Resources Journal, 2002
Conventional pollution prevention strategies for the protection of natural waters usually entail a comparison of analytical results with water quality guidelines. This comparison is often compromised by the inability to identify fu1ly the toxicants in the environment and the need to reference current toxicological databases containing large datagaps. In light of these shortcomings, we describe examples of an alternative approach based on toxicity testing coupled with chemical manipulation and directed chemical analysis. Advantages of this toxicological approach over traditional methods are illustrated for natural water surveys conducted in North America and Mexico. It is demonstrated that toxicity identification evaluation is well suited to the development of water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic ecosystems. REsUME Les strat6gies traditionnelles de pr6vention de 1a pollution pour la protection des eaux naturelles supposent habituellement la comparaison des rdsultats analytiques avec les lignes directrices en matiCre de qualitd de l'eau. Cette comparaison est souvent compromise par I'incapacitd d'identifier de manidre int6grale les substances toxiques dans I'environnement et le besoin de se r6f6rer iL des bases de donn6es toxicologiques actuelles qui pr6sentent de grandes lacunes statistiques. A la lumidre de ces faiblesses, nous d6crivons des exemples d'une autre approche bas6e sur des essais de toxicit6 combin6s d la manipulation chimique et iL l'analyse chimique dirigde. Les avantages de cette approche toxicologique par rapport aux mdthodes traditionnels sont illustrds pour 1es relev6s hydrologiques (eaux naturelles) 6tablis en Amdrique du Nord et au Mexique. I1 a 6t€ d6montr6 que 1'6valuation des donndes sur la toxicitd est bien adaptde d 1'6laboration des critdres de qualit6 de i'eau pour la protection des 6cosystdmes aquatiques.
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 2018
Since the 1940s, effluent toxicity testing has been used to assess potential ecological impacts of effluents and help determine necessary treatment options for environmental protection prior to release. Strategic combinations of toxicity tests, analytical tools, and biological monitoring have been developed. Because the number of vertebrates utilized in effluent testing is thought to be much greater than that used for individual chemical testing, there is a new need to develop strategies to reduce the numbers of vertebrates (i.e., fish) used. This need will become more critical as developing nations begin to use vertebrates in toxicity tests to assess effluent quality. A workshop was held to 1) assess the state of science in effluent toxicity testing globally; 2) determine current practices of regulators, industry, private laboratories, and academia; and 3) explore alternatives to vertebrate (fish) testing options and the inclusion of modified/new methods and approaches in the regul...
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2013
Water scarcity is one of the most important environmental and public health problems of our century. Treated wastewater reuse seems to be the most attractive option for the enhancement of water resources. However, the lack of uniform guidelines at European and/or Mediterranean level leaves room for application of varying guidelines and regulations, usually not based on risk assessment towards humans and the environment. The benefits of complementing the physicochemical evaluation of wastewater with a biological one are demonstrated in the present study using Cyprus, a country with extended water reuse applications, as an example. Four organisms from different trophic levels were used for the biological assessment of the wastewater, namely, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Daphnia magna, Artemia salina and Vibrio fischeri. The physicochemical assessment of wastewater based on "traditional" chemical parameters indicated that the quality of the wastewater complies with the limits set by the relevant national guidelines for disposal. The ecotoxicological assessment, however, indicated the presence of toxicity throughout the sampling periods and most importantly an increase of the toxicity of the treated wastewater during summer compared to winter. The resulting poor correlation between the physicochemical and biological assessments demonstrates that the two assessments are necessary and should be performed in parallel in order to be able to obtain concrete results on the overall quality of the treated effluent. Moreover, a hazard classification scheme for wastewater is proposed, which can enable the comparison of the data sets of the various parameters deriving from the biological assessment in a comprehensive way.