Acute bioassays with benthic macroinvertebrates conducted in situ

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01701937· OSTI ID:6615003

Whaley, M; Garcia, R; Sy, J ^[1]

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1. Amartech Ltd., Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah (Saudi Arabia)

Several methods of toxicity testing using macroinvertebrates in controlled laboratory experiments have been reported. Researchers conducted bioassays with natural assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates exposed to several petroleum refinery effluents. They found that the populations of invertebrates declined after only a few days of exposure. The objective of the study was to determine the acute toxic effects of discharge water from a petrochemical complex on a natural assemblage of benthic macroinvertebrates. The discharge water consisted of refinery wastewater and sanitary wastewater, as well as brine discharge from a power/desalination plant. The benthic macroinvertebrates were transplanted from a healthy reef area to the outfall channel receiving the discharge water. The study began on October 7, 1985, and concluded that same week. Any decrease in specific species would indicate that the discharge was toxic to these species. These species could also serve as indicators of toxic conditions at other locations.

• OSTI ID: 6615003
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA) Vol. 43:4; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
• 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
BENTHOS
BIOASSAY
CHEMICAL PLANTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUID WASTES
MATHEMATICS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROLEUM
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEDIMENTS
STATISTICS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER