Chronic Toxicity Bioassay with 'Ceriodaphnia dubia': (1) an Evaluation of aToxicity Test-Based Approach for Determining the Sources of Chronic Toxicity; and (2) an Evaluation of Culture/Dilution Waters and Diet as Determinants of Test Outcomes

摘要

In order to limit the discharge of toxic materials in toxic amounts to thewaterways of the United States, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a 7-day survival and reproduction toxicity bioassay test using the freshwater cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia. The North Carolina Division of Environmental Management has developed a less expensive modification of this test called the NC Ceriodaphnia Mini-Chronic Pass/Fail Toxicity Test. These tests are used to monitor discharges from wastewater treatment plants. Failure to satisfy the requirements (evidence of either acute or chronic toxicity) of the discharge permit constitutes an effluent violation. Effluent violations require that studies be conducted to determine the means to eliminate the violation. The present investigation had three basic objectives: (1) to develop and test a toxicity test-based method for locating the sources of toxic materials discharged into a collection system; (2) to investigate the effect of culture/dilution water on the health of C. dubia and reproducibility of the NC Ceriodaphnia Mini-Chronic Pass/Fail Toxicity Test; and (3) to investigate the effect of 3 diets on the health and robustness of C. dubia.