Title: The 'whole-effluent' toxicity approach

Authors: Tatjana Tisler, Jana Zagorc-Koncan

Addresses: National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 5, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: The identification and quantification of effluent toxicity plays an important role in the evaluation of harmful impacts on the aquatic environment. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of using the |whole-effluent| toxicity approach compared to prediction of toxicity using key toxic compounds. An underestimation of |whole-effluent| toxicity was always observed using bacteria, but in some cases the sum of individual toxic units was more accurate using daphnids. Good agreement was found in testing the wastewater from a chemical factory. The results clearly demonstrate the importance of using the |whole-effluent| toxicity approach for the reliable assessment of wastewater quality.

Keywords: algae; daphnids; fish; key toxic chemicals; pharmaceutical wastewater; toxic units; tannery wastewater; Vibrio fischeri; chemical factory wastewater; whole effluent toxicity; wastewater quality; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.015658

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.31 No.1/2, pp.3 - 12

Published online: 07 Nov 2007 *

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