Effects of 4-nonylphenol on the biota in a littoral pond ecosystem

Conference · Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:31770

Liber, K; Schmude, K; O`Halloran, S; Corry, T; Gangl, J ^[1]; Stay, F ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Superior, WI (United States)
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States). Environmental Research Lab.

National water quality criteria for 4-nonylphenol, a surfactant precursor and metabolite, are currently being developed by the US EPA. Preliminary data from laboratory tests indicate that the criterion maximum concentration may be as low as 3--10 {mu}g/L; field data on biological effects are rare. The study presented here was designed to assess the effects of 4-nonylphenol on a natural aquatic community using a set of 18 littoral enclosures (average volume 33 m{sup 3}). The common occurrence of 4-nonylphenol in municipal and industrial discharges dictated the use of a ``chronic`` exposure scenario for this study. Test concentrations ranged from 3 to 300 {mu}g/L, with applications every 48 hours for a 20 day period. This ensured a 21-day ``chronic`` exposure period and allowed sediment concentration of 4-nonylphenol to steadily increase. Survival of juvenile bluegill sunfish was reduced at 300 {mu}g/L, but not at 100, {mu}g/L; no effects on growth were noted over the 68-day assessment period. Abundance of Cladocera and Copepoda were also reduced at 300 {mu}g/L, with recovery observed within 2--4 weeks after the last nonylphenol application. Benthic macroinvertebrates, including Chironomidae, Oligochaeta, and Mollusca, were affected at 100--300 {mu}g/L, with impacts persisting for several months. The slow recovery of benthic macroinvertebrates was partially attributed to their prolonged exposure to sediment associated nonylphenol residues.

• OSTI ID: 31770
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9517%%65
• Resource Relation: Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
PHENOLS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
PONDS
WATER POLLUTION
FISHES
SENSITIVITY
INVERTEBRATES
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
STANDARDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
COASTAL WATERS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CRUSTACEANS
COPEPODS
MOLLUSCS
ANNELIDS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS