Use of 'Thalassia' and its epiphytes for toxicity assessment: Effects of a drilling fluid and tributyltin

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5733559

Macauley, J M; Clark, J R; Pitts, A R

Concurrent 12-week laboratory and field studies were conducted to determine toxicity of the suspended particulate phase (SPP) of drilling fluid to Thalassia testudinum and its epiphytes. Test systems were treated once per week to achieve nominal concentrations of 100 mg/L SPP. Chlorophyll content of Thalassia leaves and epiphyte biomass and chlorophyll content were monitored during each test. Laboratory exposures were conducted in 7-L, flow-through (7 L/h) microcosms consisting of Plexiglas cylinders containing intact cores of Thalassia from a local seagrass bed. Field exposures were conducted in water-tight plexiglas chambers (2 m x 2 m x 1.5 m) placed over test plots in a seagrass bed for 24 h during SPP additions. Epiphyte biomass was reduced after 6 weeks of intermittent exposure to SPP in laboratory and field tests. After 12 weeks, epiphyte biomass had increased to densities similar to control values.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5733559
• Report Number(s): PB-91-163931/XAB; EPA--600/J-90/380
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHLOROPHYLL
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MICROCOSMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SENSITIVITY
TIN COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY