Toxicity of seven potential polychlorinated biphenyl substitutes to algae and aquatic invertebrates

摘要

AbstractLaboratory studies were conducted to determine the acute or chronic toxicity of seven potential polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) replacement products (six phosphate esters and one water‐glycol mixture) to the algaSelenastrum capricornutumand three species of invertebrates. Significant reductions in algal biomass after 14 d of incubation were measured in tests with five phosphate esters at nominal concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 10 mg/L. The acute toxicity of six phosphate esters tested against a daphnid(Daphnia magna), a midge(Chironomus plumosus)and an amphipod(Gammarus pseudolimnaeus)was moderate, ranging from 1.1 to 18.0 mg/L. The water‐gylcol mixture was nontoxic to algae and invertebrates at the highest nominal concentration tested (100 mg/L).Chronic toxicity tests based on nominal concentrations indicated that five of the six phosphate esters tested against daphnids reduced survival and reproduction at concentrations ranging from 10 to 56 μg/L. whereas only one of three tested against amphipods significantly reduced growth and survival at concentrations of 31 to 128 μg/L. Emergence of midges exposed to three phosphate esters for 30 d was significantly reduced at concentrations of 36 to 319 μg/L. The water‐glycol mixture tested was much less toxic to algae and invertebrates than were the phosphate esters. These data indicate that the potential hazard of phosphate esters to the environment is significantly less than that