Ecotoxicological Impact Assessment of Micro-Sized Coal Particles on Zooplanktonic Crustacean Artemia Salina

Abstract

Micro-sized coal particles caused pollution of the aquatic environment in the area of marine coal terminals. In this work, we investigated the impact of micro-sized coal particles (<20 µm, 20-100 µm, 100-250 µm, and 250-500 µm fractions) on the viability of zooplanktonic crustacean Artemia salina. The nauplii of A. salina were exposed to particles of four different types of coal at concentrations from 100 to 5000 mg/L at static and shaking conditions. During 96 h of exposure, there were no pronounced toxicological effects of coal in the used concentrations. However, the observed absorption of the coal particles in the guts of A. salina may cause various abnormalities in the longer-term experiment.

State of marine biota in the water area of the Muchke Bay’s Coal Terminal of the Tatar Strait

“…Macrobenthos species composition of sandy-silty grounds between stony-boulder placers at the depth of 11-13.5 2 , with an abundance of 255±134 specimens/m 2 . Along the boulder slopes of the study area there were settlements of bivalve mollusks, including the coastal scallop [22].…”

“…The closed conveyor technology and rotary car dumper systems used at the Vanino Bulk Terminal do not exclude the formation of coal dust, and the storage of large amounts of coal at open sites causes particles to enter the sea water. The presence of large amounts of coal particles in the water changes the properties of the marine environment and can negatively affect marine organisms [1,2], affect the density of microalgae, embryonic and larval development of benthos and nekton organisms [3][4][5][6].…”