SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1980
STP27423S

Studies to Determine Relationships Between Time and Toxicity of an Acidic Effluent and an Alkaline Effluent to Two Estuarine Species

Source

Acute tests (0.25 to 96 h) and chronic (full life-cycle) tests were conducted with mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia) and sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) to determine the toxicity of an acidic effluent and an alkaline effluent.

In acute tests with the acidic effluent, the unaltered effluent (pH <0.1) was much more toxic to shrimp and fish than was the pH-adjusted effluent (pH 7 ± 0.2). However, both shrimp and fish were similar in their sensitivity to each of the test materials. Also, three life stages (juvenile, subadult, and adult) of sheepshead minnows exposed to both unaltered and pH-adjusted effluent were very similar in their sensitivity to each of the test materials.

In acute tests with the alkaline effluent, there was little difference between the toxicity of the unaltered effluent (pH 13.0) and that of the pH-adjusted effluent (pH 8.0) to shrimp or fish. Similarly, there was little difference in the sensitivities of the three life stages (juvenile, subadult, and adult) of sheepshead minnows exposed to unaltered or pH-adjusted effluent.

During a chronic exposure of mysid shrimp to the acidic effluent, concentrations of unaltered effluent ≤75 ppm (µl/litre) caused no adverse effects, and in a chronic exposure of sheepshead minnows to the unaltered effluent, concentrations ≤100 ppm caused no adverse effects.

Exposure to concentrations of the pH-adjusted alkaline effluent ≤750 ppm caused no adverse effect on mysid shrimp or sheepshead minnows during chronic exposures. Histopathological examination of the fish from the chronic test showed no effluent-related effects.

Author Information

Hollister, TA
EG&G Bionomics, Marine Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Fla.
Heitmuller, PT
EG&G Bionomics, Marine Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Fla.
Parrish, PR
EG&G Bionomics, Marine Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Fla.
Dyar, EE
EG&G Bionomics, Marine Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Fla.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E35
Pages: 251–265
DOI: 10.1520/STP27423S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4775-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0280-4