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Acute and chronic toxicity of industrial and municipal effluents in Maryland, U.S.
Author(s) -
Fisher Daniel J.,
Knott Melvin H.,
Turley Bonnie S.,
Yonkos Lance T.,
Ziegler Gregory P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143098x126946
Subject(s) - ceriodaphnia dubia , pimephales promelas , daphnia magna , effluent , chronic toxicity , bioassay , biomonitoring , acute toxicity , toxicity , environmental chemistry , environmental science , minnow , toxicology , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , ecology , environmental engineering , fishery , chemistry , organic chemistry
Since 1987, an effluent biomonitoring program of major and selected minor industrial and municipal point source dischargers has been conducted for Maryland's Department of the Environment. Acute and chronic toxicity test procedures were developed and implemented for testing freshwater ( Pimephales promelas, Daphnia magna , and Ceriodaphnia dubia ) and estuarine ( Cyprinodon variegatus and Mysidopsis bahia ) invertebrates and fish. Results from the laboratory bioassays were used by Maryland to identify toxic discharges to state waters. Beginning in 1987, totals of 488 and 89 effluent samples were tested for acute and chronic toxicity, respectively. Both the frequency of acute and chronic toxicity and the severity of the toxicity of the remaining toxic effluents have decreased dramatically since the inception of the program. Examples are presented concerning the use of these data by Maryland to regulate toxic discharges. These results indicate the important role whole‐effluent toxicity testing plays in controlling the point source discharge of toxic substances to surface waters.