Relative sensitivity of one freshwater and two marine acute toxicity tests as determined by testing 30 offshore E & P chemicals

Acute toxicity of 30 offshore E & P (Exploration and Production) chemicals was measured using the three standard test organisms Daphnia magna (freshwater cladoceran), Acartia tonsa (marine copepod) and Skeletonema costatum (marine diatom alga). Test chemicals included 20 water-soluble and 10 (partially) non-soluble products. For 22 out of the 30 chemicals, the difference in sensitivity between the three tests varied within one order of magnitude. A very good correlation was found between the two marine tests (r = 0.96, P < 0.01, n = 30), and a correlation coefficient of r = 0.78 (P < 0.01, n = 30) was found between D. magna and both A. tonsa and S. costatum, individually. When the comparison of D. magna and A. tonsa sensitivity was based only on the water-soluble chemicals, a significantly higher correlation was obtained (r = 0.84, n = 20), indicating that the sample preparation method used for the (partially) non-soluble chemicals (the water accommodated fraction (WAF) method) induces additional variation between tests performed with different test media. (Partially) non-soluble chemicals are characterised by phase separation or precipitation at the concentrations used for testing. In a WAF-based test, each test concentration/exposure level is prepared separately, and following mixing and separation, only the water phase is used for testing. Toxicity is related to the amount of substance originally added to the mixing vessels. For 25 of the 30 chemicals, D. magna was found to be less sensitive than the marine copepod by a factor >2. The generally higher sensitivity of the marine toxicity tests compared to the Daphnia test emphasise the importance of using marine data for environmental hazard classification as well as for environmental risk assessment purposes.     

Evaluation of the toxicity of substances to be assessed for biodegradability

The ability to distinguish between true non-biodegradability, and inhibition of biodegradability due to the toxic effects of the compound tested present problems. It results in possible false identification of substances as non-biodegradable.Six chemicals were evaluated in a variety of tests to assess their toxicity to aerobic sludge organisms. The tests employed were: BOD₅ and Closed Bottle inhibition tests, inhibition of respiration of activated sludge, growth inhibition of activated sludge, light emission from (MICROTOX test) and the repetitive die-away test (RDA). Results from these tests were compared with results obtained from a number of ready biodegradability tests using the compounds listed above at anticipated non-toxic and toxic concentrations.No test method evaluated consistently forecast toxicity due to the chemicals tested. The MICROTOX and nitrification inhibition tests were too sensitive. A combination of sludge respiration rate and/or growth tests seem most appropriate. To avoid toxicity to the sludge, biodegradability testing should be made at 10% of the EC₅₀ value. Compounds with an EC₅₀ value greater than 300 mg/l are unlikely to be toxic in ready biodegradability tests. Compounds with an EC₅₀ value of less than 20 mg/l may pose problems necessitating the use of the stringent closed bottle test, or the use of C¹⁴ labelled test materials. Compounds with an intermediate EC₅₀ that is between 20–300 mg/l, need to be evaluated at a range of concentrations in biodegradability tests, or may need to be evaluated carefully to define the precise no-effect level. Procedure recommendations to distinguish between the inhibition of biodegradability and inertness of the test substance are made.     

Lactate dehydrogenase activity as an effect criterion in toxicity tests with Daphnia magna straus.

Activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was used as an effect criterion in toxicity tests with Daphnia magna. In the first part of the work, the conditions for the use of LDH activity in toxicity tests with juveniles and adults of D. magna, were optimized. The influence of parameters such as the number of animals per sample, nutritional status, age and the presence of eggs in the brood chamber were investigated. In the second part of the study, both in vivo and in vitro tests based on the alteration of LDH activity of D. magna were developed and tested using zinc chloride as test substance. The results obtained indicate that LDH activity of D. magna may be used as an indicative parameter in aquatic toxicity tests.     

Acute effects of diclofenac and DMSO to Daphnia magna: immobilisation and hsp70-induction

To determine the toxicity of the anti-rheumatic drug diclofenac to Daphnia magna, acute toxicity tests according to the OECD guideline 202 were combined with biochemical investigations of the hsp70 level as a biomarker for proteotoxicity. Particular attention was paid to the impact of the solvent DMSO as a confounding factor to diclofenac toxicity by means of testing different variations of producing stock solutions. In the acute immobilisation tests, diclofenac was most toxic as a singular test substance, with indication of a slight antagonistic interaction between the two substances. The highest EC(50) values were obtained in those approaches using diclofenac pre-dissolved in DMSO. Thus, the observed antagonism seems to be intensified by pre-dissolution. Hsp70 levels of 12- to 19-days-old D. magna were determined after 48h exposure using a highly reproducible immunological protocol. Hsp70 induction occurred at a LOEC of 30mgl(-1) diclofenac plus 0.6mll(-1) DMSO, and at a LOEC of 40mgl(-1) for diclofenac alone. In summary, DMSO showed only slight confounding effects on diclofenac action in the applied range of concentrations.     

Optimisation of a microbial bioassay for contaminated soil monitoring: bacterial inoculum standardisation and comparison with Microtox assay

This work represents the first step to set up a toxicity testing procedure and to evaluate the sensitivity of the test microorganism to several classes of environmental pollutants. First, three different techniques were employed to standardise the microbial inoculum, then two different toxicity assessment protocols have been compared: Microtox and a dehydrogenase (DHase) activity inhibition test. The main goal was the optimisation of a microbial bioassay based on the dehydrogenase activity (DHase) inhibition in Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial strain ATCC 13525. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) was used as electron acceptor and its reduction produces Triphenyl formazane (TPF). The P. fluorescens DHase inhibition bioassay was investigated for being a reliable and rapid method for assessing toxicity. The optimisation of the operating conditions resulted in a repeatable bioassay. Then, P. fluorescens and Vibrio fischeri sensitivity were firstly compared by testing Zn++, one of the reference compounds for Microtox test. In addition, other compounds (Ni++, Cd++, Cu++, phenol) were also tested with both bioassays. A high statistical significance of data was obtained with the logistic curve. The present work has demonstrated that P. fluorescens is as sensitive as Microtox culture (V. fischeri), for some of the metal ions. With reference to organic compounds, the lower sensitivity of P. fluorescens to phenol makes its use difficult in organic polluted samples.     

Influence of organic solvents on the sensitivity of a bioluminescence toxicity test with Vibrio harveyi

The possibility of using organic solvents (OSs) to increase the susceptibility of bioluminescent microorganisms in a bioassay for assessing the toxicity of chemicals dissolved in water was investigated. To conduct the tests acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol were used as OSs and Cd, Hg, and Zn as reference toxicants. The addition of OSs modified the toxicity of the three metals to Vibrio harveyi, according on the bioluminescence assay used. The sensitivity of the luminescence bioassay for Hg increased in the presence of the five OSs, thus indicating a greater toxic effect. However, the sensitivity of the assay for the other two metals, Cd and Zn, increased or decreased (lesser toxic effect) depending on the concentration at which the OSs were used. No correlation was observed between the concentration of the five OSs and the toxicity of the three reference toxicants. From this it can be deduced that none of these OSs could be recommended for increasing generically the sensitivity of toxicity biotests using V. harveyi.     

Toxicity of fenamiphos and its metabolites to the cladoceran Daphnia carinata: the influence of microbial degradation in natural waters

The acute toxicity of an organophosphorous pesticide, fenamiphos and its metabolites, fenamiphos sulfoxide, fenamiphos sulfone, fenamiphos phenol, fenamiphos sulfoxide phenol and fenamiphos sulfone phenol, to a cladoceran, Daphnia carinata was studied in both cladoceran culture medium and natural water collected from a local river. The toxicity followed the order: fenamiphos>fenamiphos sulfone>fenamiphos sulfoxide. The hydrolysis products of fenamiphos, F. sulfoxide (FSO) and F. sulfone (FSO(2)) (F. phenol, FSO phenol and FSO(2) phenol) were not toxic to D. carinata up to 500microgl(-1) water, suggesting hydrolysis reaction leads to detoxification. Also the toxicity was reduced in natural water compared to the cladoceran culture medium due to microbial mediated degradation of toxicants in the natural water. Fenamiphos and its metabolites were stable in both cladoceran water and filter-sterilised natural water while these compounds showed degradation in unfiltered natural water implicating the microbial role in degradation of these compounds. To our knowledge this is the first study on acute toxicity of fenamiphos metabolites to cladoceran and this study suggests that the organophosphate pesticides are highly toxic to fresh water invertebrates and therefore pollution with these compounds may adversely affect the natural ecosystems.     

Altered toxicity of organic pollutants in water originated from simultaneous exposure to UV photolysis and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

The paper reports unforeseen results of increased toxicity of water, subsequent to interactions between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), phenol and toluene under UV irradiation. The consistent pattern of changes in measured toxicity (TU) was observed and correlated with degradation of phenol and/or toluene. Spearman rank coefficients (SRCs) for data pairs sum-parameters vs. TU were calculated. The highest correlation between toxicity and degradation by-products was observed for hydroquinone (0.86) and catechol (0.89). The presence of QDs in tested concentration range in the absence of UV has shown low toxicity and no interactions with phenol and/or toluene. The leak of constituent core and shell metal ions was observed. The minor differences in physical characteristics of tested QDs of the same chemical composition led to rather different degradation patterns of phenol and toluene, and the amount of leak of the metal ions as well.     

Investigation of acute toxicity of fenitrothion on peppered corydoras (Corydoras paleatus) (Jenyns, 1842)

Fenitrothion, as an organophosphothionate insecticide, is a contact insecticide and selective acaricide, also used as a vector control agent for malaria in public health programs. A 96 h LC50 value of fenitrothion, a potential toxic pollutant contaminating aquatic ecosystems, was determined on the adult peppered corydoras (Corydoras paleatus). The experiments were repeated three times. The static test method of acute toxicity test was used. Water temperature was regulated at 23 +/- 1 degrees C. In addition, behavioral changes at each fenitrothion concentration were observed for the individual fish. Data obtained from acute toxicity tests were evaluated using the Probit Analysis Statistical Method. The 96 h LC50 value for peppered corydoras was estimated as 3.51 mg/l.     

Sediment toxicity testing using large water-sediment ratios: an alternative to water renewal

Deterioration of overlying water quality during toxicity tests with benthic invertebrates is a serious problem with some sediments. One solution is periodic renewal of overlying water. However, this is either labour intensive or requires construction and maintenance of special equipment. Furthermore, water renewal has the potential for flushing toxic chemicals out of the test chamber and establishes nonequilibrium conditions between the water and sediment. An alternative is testing under static conditions using atypical test vessels (e.g. Imhoff settling cones) with a large water volume (1 l) overlaying a much smaller sediment volume (e.g. 15 ml). This results in dramatic improvement of overlying water quality compared to standard static toxicity tests. Compared to water renewal, the test method is much simpler, all toxic substances leached from the sediment are retained in the test vessel, and contaminant concentrations in water and sediment have more time to equilibrate. Chronic sediment toxicity tests (10-28 days) have been conducted successfully under these conditions with Chironomus riparius, Hexagenia sp., Hyalella azteca and Tubifex tubifex.     

Transformation and Ecotoxicity of Carbamic Pesticides in Water (5 pp)

Background N-methylcarbamate insecticides are widely used chemicals for crop protection. This study examines the hydrolytic and photolytic cleavage of benfuracarb, carbosulfan and carbofuran under natural conditions. Their toxicity and that of the corresponding main degradation products toward aquatic organisms were evaluated. Methods Suspensions of benfuracarb, carbosulfan and carbofuran in water were exposed to sunlight, with one set of dark controls, for 6 days, and analyzed by 1H-NMR and HPLC. Acute toxicity tests were performed on Brachionus calyciflorus, Daphnia magna, and Thamnocefalus platyurus. Chronic tests were performed on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Results and Discussion Under sunlight irradiation, benfuracarb and carbosulfan gave off carbofuran and carbofuran-phenol, while only carbofuran was detected in the dark experiments. The latter was degraded to phenol by exposure to sunlight. Effects of pH, humic acid and KNO3 were evaluated by kinetics on dilute solutions in the dark and by UV irradiation, which evidenced the lability of the pesticide at pH 9. All three pesticides and phenol exhibited acute and higher chronic toxicity towards the aquatic organisms tested. Conclusion Investigation on the hydrolysis and photolysis of benfuracarb and carbosulfan under natural conditions provides evidence concerning the selective decay to carbofuran and/or phenol. Carbofuran is found to be more persistent and toxic. Recommendations and Outlook The decay of benfuracarb and carbosulfan to carbofuran and the relative stability of this latter pesticide account for many papers that report the detection of carbofuran in water, fruits and vegetables.     

Estimation of ambient chronic toxicity in a polluted creek system

Ambient water toxicity estimations were conducted in Piles Creek as part of an ecological risk assessment study. This creek is part of a highly polluted estuarine system located near Linden, New Jersey. An upstream and a downstream site in the creek were evaluated for effects on survival, growth and sexual maturity of the estuarine mysid, Mysidopsis bahia. Manasquan Inlet, Manasquan, New Jersey, served as the reference site. Seven-day screening toxicity tests were conducted once a month over a three month period. Results indicate that survival of mysids was not affected in any toxicity test. Mysid growth was significantly reduced at both of the test sites, in two out of three trials. Sexual maturity was shown to be adversely affected in mysids exposed to ambient waters from both test sites throughout the duration of the study.     

Toxic effects of orimulsion on rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Orimulsion (stable emulsion of natural bitumen and water) is a new imported industrial fuel in Lithuania. No data on its toxicity to fish is freely available. The aim of this study was to investigate sensitivity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to acute and chronic toxicity of orimulsion and to estimate the Maximum Acceptable Toxicant Concentration (MATC) of orimulsion to fish. METHODS: Laboratory tests were conducted on rainbow trout in all stages of development (embryos, larvae, adults). Acute toxicity (96-hour duration) and long-term (28 or 60-day duration) tests evaluating the wide range spectrum of biological indices were performed under semi-static conditions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Median lethal concentration (96-hour LC50) values and their 95% confidence intervals derived from the tests were: 0.1 (0.09-0.12) to embryos, 0.06 (0.05-0.07) to larvae and 2.22 (2.02-2.43) to adult fish, and 28-day LC50 to adult fish was found to be 0.26 (0.21-0.32) g/l of total orimulsion respectively. The acute toxicity of orimulsion to rainbow trout can be characterised by a narrow zone of toxic effect and a sharp boundary between lethal and sublethal concentrations. The lowest 'safe' or 'no-effect' concentration values of total orimulsion obtained in long-term tests were equal to 0.09 g/l to adult fish, 0.019 g/l to embryos, and 0.0017 g/l to larvae. Proposed value of 'application factor' for orimulsion was found to be equal to 0.03. Since orimulsion has the property to disperse in all water volume, its toxic effect on fish can be characterised by the combined effects of dispersion and water-soluble-fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Maximum Acceptable Toxicant Concentration (MATC) of 0.0017 g/l of total orimulsion to fish was derived from long-term tests based on the most sensitive parameter of rainbow trout larvae (relative mass increase at the end of the test). According to substance toxicity classification accepted for Lithuanian inland waters, orimulsion can be referred to substances of 'moderate' toxicity to fish. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: For prediction and evaluation of toxic impact of orimulsion accident spills on fish, some recommendations should be given. Since orimulsion has the property to disperse in all water volume during short time periods, the amounts of both spilled orimulsion and polluted water should be ascertained. Once both parameters are known, the real concentration of orimulsion in the water body must be determined. Then this concentration must be compared with 'safe' concentration to fish. By use of 'application factor' 0.03, approximate MATC for other fish species can be estimated when only acute toxicity data (96-hour LC50 value) is available.     

Biodegradation rates in adapted surface water can be assessed following a preadaptation period with semi-continuous operation

The paper presents a semi-continuous preexposure procedure (SCEP) for use with surface water batch simulation biodegradability tests at low test substance concentrations (0.1-100 microg/l). Simple one step batch tests are normally used first of all for determining "initial rates" characteristic of the water as sampled, as by contrast to "adapted" rates obtained as a result of exposure of the microbial community to the test compound. The aim of the SCEP is to facilitate this adaptation and to become able to estimate reproducible "adapted rates" representing a steady state situation. This is accomplished by maintaining the microbial diversity and a supply of test substance and natural substrates. Conducting a SCEP involves regular renewal of part (e.g. one third) of the test suspension (e.g. every two weeks) adding freshly collected natural water with test compound of the initial concentration. An example study was performed with aniline, 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-chloroaniline, and water from the urban river M?lle?. Following preadaptation lag phases were considerably reduced and much more reproducible than obtained with simple batch tests. In tests at 100 microg/l lag phases for aniline decreased from 5.2 to <1 day, 4-nitrophenol from 10 to <1 day, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from 24 to <1 day, and 4-chloroaniline from 88 to 9 days, respectively. Adapted rates obtained with the SCECP were roughly the same as final rates in simple batch tests with successful adaptation. The adapted rate constant is perceived as an inherent characteristic of the test compound at a specific concentration and under environmental influence (temperature, natural substrates, etc.) but with no simple links back to the original microbial population. By contrast, the initial rates in one step batch tests are determined also by the microbial population initially present in the water sampled.     

Influence of synthetic and biogenic surfactants on the toxicity of water-soluble fractions of hydrocarbons in sea water determined with the bioluminescence inhibition test

The influence of increasing amounts of surfactants on the toxicity of hydrocarbons was determined using the bioluminescence inhibition test (Microtox test). Three biogenic and three synthetic surfactants were tested against the water-soluble fractions (WSF) of crude and weathered Ekofisk oil, phenol, and naphthalene. Surfactant concentrations below 100 mg litre(-1) lowered the toxicity of the WSF, indicating an antagonistic interaction reducing the toxicities of surfactants and hydrocarbons. At concentrations greater than 100 mg litre(-1) the toxicity rose again and was higher than the untreated WSF. The point of reversal seemed to be the critical micelle concentration, at which the formation of oil/water emulsions is possible.     

Measurement of movement patterns of Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda) with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor (MFB)--a potential new method to study a behavioral toxicity parameter of nematodes in sediments

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans receives increasing attention in sediment ecotoxicology and new toxicity tests with sensitive test parameters are under development. In this study, the motility of C. elegans could be measured for the first time online in sediment, using the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor. Whereas single nematodes could not be recorded, groups of 10 nematodes gave typical locomotive signals in different media (water, agar, sediment) with comparable precision and accuracy. The results of this study encourage to develop a new rapid online whole-sediment toxicity test with behaviour as sensitive test parameter.     

Optimization of a pressurization methodology for extracting pore-water

Sediment toxicity can be assessed by conducting pore-water toxicity assays with standard water column organisms. Several methods have been developed for sampling pore-water. Centrifugation and pressurization methods are recommended when large volumes of pore-water are required to perform toxicity assays. Nevertheless, these methods involve sediment transportation and storage in laboratory, which can alter sediment toxicity. Therefore, an extraction method for large volumes that could be employed in the field site would be highly desirable. This study aimed to optimize and further evaluate an existing sediment pressurizing device with low construction costs, easy to carry and operate in the field, and presenting minimal chemical reactivity. The latter characteristic was achieved by lining the device interior with Teflon, by using large pore filters (50 microm), and by using an inert gas (nitrogen). Pore-water extraction efficiency and the toxicities of pore-water samples obtained by pressurization and by refrigerated centrifugation were compared. An artificial sediment (70% sand, 20% kaolin and 10% alpha-cellulose) spiked with an alcohol (phenol), a surfactant (SDS), a metal (copper), an organophosphate pesticide (parathion), and a natural sediment contaminated with acid mine drainage, were assayed for toxicity using Microtox assays. Sediment pressurization was found to be as efficient to extract pore-water as centrifugation, being more cost effective and adequate for field use.     

An assessment of the potential toxicity of runoff from an urban roadscape during rain events

Goal, Scope and Background

The potential negative impact of urban storm water on aquatic freshwater ecosystems has been demonstrated in various studies with different types of biological methods. There are a number of factors that influence the amount and bioavailability of contaminants in storm water even if it is derived from an area with a fairly homogenous land use such as a roadscape where a variation in toxicity during rain events might be expected. There are only a few previous investigations on the toxicity of highway runoff and they have not explored these issues extensively. The main objective of this study is therefore to characterize the potential toxicity of highway runoff during several rain events before it enters a detention pond in VästerOas, Sweden, using laboratory bioassays with test organisms representing various functional groups in an aquatic ecosystem. The results are to be used for developing a monitoring program, including biological methods.

Materials and Methods

The storm water was sampled before the entrance to a detention pond, which receives run-off from a highway with approximately 20,000 vehicles a day. The drainage area, including the roadscape and vegetated areas, is 4.3 ha in size. Samples for toxicity tests were taken with an automatic sampler or manually during storm events. In total, the potential toxicity of 65 samples representing 15 different storm events was determined. The toxicity was assessed with 4 different test organisms; Vibrio fischeri using the Microtox® comparison test, Daphnia magna using Daphtoxkit-F?agna, Thamnocephalus platyurus using the ThamnotoxkitF? and Lemna minor, duckweed using SS 028313.

Results and Discussion

Of the 65 samples, 58 samples were tested with DaphniatoxkitF?agna, 57 samples with the Microtox® comparison test, 48 samples with ThamnotoxkitF? and 20 samples with Lemna minor, duckweed. None of the storm water samples were toxic.No toxicity was detected with the Lemna minor test, but in 5 of the 23 samples tested in comparison to the control a growth stimulation of 22–46% was observed. This is in accordance with the chemical analysis of the storm water, which indicated rather large concentrations of tot-N and tot-P. In addition to the growth stimulation, morphological changes were observed in all the 5 samples from the winter event that was sampled. The lack of toxicity observed in our study might be due to a lower traffic intensity (20,000 vehicles/day) at the site and the trapping of pollutants in the vegetated areas of the roadscape, resulting in much smaller loads of pollutants in the storm water than in some previous studies.

Conclusions

Ecotoxicological evaluations of storm water including run off from rain events from urban roadscape studies clearly reveal that toxicity may or may not be detected depending upon site, storm condition and the test organism chosen. However, storm water might not be as polluted as previously reported nor may the first flush be such a widespread phenomenon as we originally expected. In this study, there was also a good correlation between pollutant load measured and the lack of toxicity. The test organisms chosen in this study are commonly used in effluent control programs in Sweden and other countries, which makes it possible to compare the results with those from other effluents. In this study, only acute toxicity tests were used and further studies using chronic toxicity tests, assays for genotoxic compounds or in situ bioassays might reveal biological effects at this site. Furthermore, most of the samples were taken in spring, summer or fall and it is possible that winter conditions might alter the constituents in the storm water and, thus, the toxicity of the samples.

Recommendations and Perspectives

Considering the complex nature of run off from urban roadscapes, it will be virtually impossible to evaluate properly the potential hazard of particular storm water and the efficiency of a particular treatment strategy from only physical and chemical characterizations of the effluent. Therefore, despite the lack of toxicity detected in this study, it is recommended that toxicity tests or other biological methods should be included in evaluations of the effects of runoff from roadscapes.

     

Species-specific responses to metals in organically enriched river water, with emphasis on effects of humic acids

Invertebrate communities in polluted rivers are often exposed to a wide variety of compounds. Due to complex interactions, 'pollution tolerant' species are not necessarily the most tolerant species to toxicants tested under standard laboratory conditions. It was hypothesized that the distribution of species in polluted rivers is not only dependent on the tolerance of species to toxicants, but also on species-specific capacities to modify or compensate for negative effects of toxicants. To test this hypothesis, species-specific responses to metals in organically enriched river water were studied under controlled conditions. The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the midge Chironomus riparius were exposed to metal-polluted water from the River Dommel. Additionally, the (interactive) effects of metals and humic acids (HA) on both species were evaluated. In spite of a lower tolerance of Chironomus riparius to metals in laboratory studies, the midge was the most tolerant of the two test species to metal-polluted site water. The results indicated that the sensitivities of the two test species determined in laboratory tests were inversely related to their sensitivities to polluted river water. In accordance with these results, midge larvae were protected from copper (Cu) toxicity by HA, while metal toxicity was not reduced (Cu) or even amplified (cadmium) by HA for the zebra mussel. Thus, the presence of (naturally occurring) HA in site water may partly account for discrepancies between responses of species to bioassays and toxicity tests. It is suggested that these differences in responses to metals in site water are strongly influenced by species-specific preferences for organic compounds (like HA). It is concluded that the response to organic compounds present in site water largely determines whether a species is classified as 'pollution tolerant' or 'pollution sensitive'.     

Toxicity of anti-fouling paints for use on ships and leisure boats to non-target organisms representing three trophic levels

Leachates of anti-fouling paints for use on ships and leisure boats are examined for their ecotoxicological potential. Paint leachates were produced in both 7‰ artificial (ASW) and natural seawater (NSW) and tested on three organisms, the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the macroalga Ceramium tenuicorne, and the crustacean Nitocra spinipes. Generally, leaching in ASW produced a more toxic leachate and was up to 12 times more toxic to the organisms than was the corresponding NSW leachate. The toxicity could be explained by elevated concentrations of Cu and Zn in the ASW leachates. Of the NSW leachates, those from the ship paints were more toxic than those from leisure boat paints. The most toxic paint was the biocide-free leisure boat paint Micron Eco. This implies that substances other than added active agents (biocides) were responsible for the observed toxicity, which would not have been discovered without the use of biological tests.