SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1985
STP33590S

Acute and Chronic Toxicity to the Fathead Minnow, , of Effluents from a Treatment Plant Receiving Dye and Pigment Processing Wastewater

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Ninety-six hour, static acute, and continuous-flow early life-stage (ELS) chronic toxicity tests, using the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of effluents from a pilot scale activated sludge (AS) treatment system receiving dye and pigment wastewater. In the first test with a powdered activated carbon (PAC) dosage of 1800 mg/L of influent, survival was the most sensitive measure of effect in the ELS test. The highest effluent concentration tested (10%) was lethal to the embryos and larvae. No adverse effect on survival or growth was observed at lower effluent concentrations (5.0 to 0.63%). The maximum acceptable toxicant (effluent) concentration (MATC) was between 10 and 5%. Ten 96-h median lethal concentration (LC50) values from static acute tests ranged from 12.9 to greater than 80%. In the second test at a PAC dosage of 1000 mg/L of influent, growth was the most sensitive measure of effect in the ELS test. Larval growth was significantly reduced at the highest effluent concentration tested (20%). The MATC was between 20 and 10%. Seven 96-h LC50s from static acute tests ranged from 28.3 to greater than 80%. The effluent from the treatment system receiving the higher PAC dosage of 1800 mg/L was more toxic than the effluent from the treatment system receiving the lower PAC dosage of 1000 mg/L. However, the influent to the treatment system receiving the higher level of PAC also was more acutely toxic.

Author Information

Pickering, QH
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory—Duluth, Newton Fish Toxicology Station, Cinncinnati, OH
Shaul, GM
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
Dostal, KA
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
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Details
Developed by Committee: E47
Pages: 395–406
DOI: 10.1520/STP33590S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4952-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0437-2