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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for estimating the toxicity of chlorinated discharges

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7356819
A recently developed procedure for site specific testing of chlorine toxicity both within a facility and its discharge is described. In order to evaluate the ecological effect of a proposed chlorination, it is necessary to know the vulnerability of fresh water organisms to chlorine exposures. Existing data regarding chlorine toxicity to freshwater organisms is presented for 64 species, of which 8 are algae, 27 are invertebrates, 28 are fish, and 1 an amphibian. The thresholds drawn indicate that for concentrations greater than 0.0015 mg/l increase in time of exposure generally increases the toxicity of chlorine. For concentrations less than 0.0015 mg/l, however, toxicity is no longer time-dependent and exposure for infinite time would not result in death. Evaluation of a given exposure to chlorine can be made by comparing a dose-time combination with the toxicity thresholds. (CH)
Research Organization:
Union Carbide Corp., Oak Ridge, Tenn. (USA). Nuclear Div.
OSTI ID:
7356819
Report Number(s):
CONF-750980-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English