Abstract |
The product aquatic-toxicity project of the Environmental Impact Analysis program has been completed and this report summarizes the data collected on 217 products. Definitive test data are presented on 210 products and range-finding values are included on 7 products which were not tested by the definitive procedure. The test data show that, in general, the surfactants are the most toxic family of products evaluated, followed by acrylates, alkylamines, aldehydes, acids, aromatic's and esters. Only 17 of the products tested showed aquatic toxicity (LC50) values below 10 mg/1. Since this study was designed to evaluate the immediate effect of accidental or controlled discharges of chemicals on aquatic life, no pH adjustment or supplementary solvents were used. Although most of the values were obtained using adult fathead minnows as the test organism, some comparative test results using fathead fry have been included to show the higher degree of sensitivity exhibited by the young fish. Some toxicity values comparing the sensitivity and reliability of brine shrimp as a test organism with the fathead minnows have been included for guidance in considering the use of brine shrimp as an off-the-shelf routine aquatic toxicity test. The aquatic toxicity testing facilities will be maintained at this location for some additional product evaluations and for effluent testing which is being required at several of our plants. |