Effects of three homologous nonionic surfactants in model stream mesocosm exposures
- Univ. of Mississippi, University, MS (United States). Dept. of Biology
Three linear alcohol ethoxylate (LAE) surfactants with average carbon numbers of 10, 12.8, and 14.5 and averages of 6, 7, and 7 ethylene oxide units/mole, respectively were evaluated in outdoor stream mesocosm experiments. These mesocosm experiments determined no observed effects concentrations (NOECS) for a variety of sensitive and ecologically important parameters including fish, macroinvertebrates, vascular aquatic plants and periphyton. In 30d studies, mean measured exposure concentrations ranged from 0.73--11.24 mg/L, 0.32--5.2 mg/L, and 0.08--0.55 mg/L for the surfactants with average carbon numbers of 10, 12.8, and 14.5, respectively. Plants were relatively insensitive to surfactant exposures, The estimated NOECs for aquatic invertebrate densities were 2.04 mg/L, < 0.32 mg/L, and 0.08 mg/L for the C{sub 10}, C{sub 12.8}, and C{sub 14.5} LAES, respectively. Similarly, the NOECs for fish (fathead minnow reproduction) were 0.73 mg/L, , 0.32 mg/L, and 0.11 mg/L, respectively. Fish NOECs decreased from 6.6 times (reproduction) to 17.3 times (bluegill survival and growth) as LAE carbon chain length increased. The observed toxicity of these surfactants is directly related to carbon chain length with greater toxicity associated with longer chain lengths.
- OSTI ID:
- 390189
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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