SEDL / STP / STP707-EB / STP27415S

An Automated Biological Monitoring Facility for Rapidly and Continuously Assessing Industrial Effluents

Gruber, D
Research associate, assistant director, associate professor, and graduate student, Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

Dickson, KL
Associate professor and director, Institute of Applied Sciences, North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Hendricks, AC
Research associate, assistant director, associate professor, and graduate student, Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

Miller, WR
Research associate, assistant director, associate professor, and graduate student, Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

Pages: 13    Published: Jan 1980

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Abstract

A continuous and automatic biological monitoring facility has been developed to measure the toxicity of industrial effluents to aquatic organisms. The ventilatory rates of bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, are monitored with the aid of a minicomputer. The biomonitoring and auxiliary components have been housed within a 9.75 by 3.66-m (32 by 12-ft) trailer to facilitate on-site monitoring. Other incorporations include a continuous-flow acute bioassay unit, probes for monitoring conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature, and an automatic water sampler. Initial testing employing the petroleum industry's arbitrary reference mixture, two synthetic chlorinated effluents, and an effluent from a U.S. Army ammunition plant has demonstrated the potential of the present system for monitoring industrial wastewaters.